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V 







THE DIVINE CHILD JEEUS. 



LIVES OF THE SAINTS 
FOR CHILDREN. 


BY 

TH. BERTHOLD. 

M 


artorlbr EUustrattous. 





New York, Cincinnati. Chicago : 
BEN^IGER BROTH ECRS, 
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See. 

1900. 


80676 


IRibtl ©bstat. 


Library of Congress 

Two Coates RECCivfo 

NOV 26 1900 

Copyright <atry 
^KO~v . *4 6 * 

SECOND COPY 

Dchvored to 

ORDER DIVISION 

PF r - lfijaooj 


Y33 


REMY LAFORT, 

, Censor Librorum. 


imprimatur. 

f MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, 

Archbishop of New York. 


New York, September 24, 1900. 



Copyright, 1900, by Benziger Brothers. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

The Child Jesus 5 

St. Agnes 14 

St. Germaine 20 

St. Casimir 26 

St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin 30 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary 35 

The Blessed Hermann Joseph 42 

St. Bose of Lima 48 

St. Aloysius Gonzaga 54 

St. Francis de Sales 59 

St. Jane Frances de Chantal 65 

St. Benedict Joseph Labre 71 

St. Anthony of Padua 76 

St. Charles Borromeo 80 

St. Louis 86 

St. Alphonsus Liguori 90 

St. Francis Xavier 94 

St. Ottilia 100 

St. Andrea Corsini 105 

St. Thomas Aquinas 109 

St. Lidwina 114 

St. Francis Borgia 120 


3 


4 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

St. Stanislaus Kostka 125 

St. Teresa 129 

Blessed Peter Canisius 134 

St. Paschal Baylon 139 

St. Joseph 144 

The Holy Anna Catharina Emmerich 149 

Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque 156 

St. Lawrence of Brindisi 160 

St. Martin 166 

St. Zita 172 



LIVES OF THE SAINTS FOR 
CHILDREN. 


THE CHILD JESUS. 

My dear children, a more beautiful union than 
that which had its beginning beside the manger 
in Bethlehem on Holy Night was never seen on 
earth. 

Wrapped in swaddling-cloths a new-born 
Child, wondrously fair and bathed in a halo of 
light, lay in the manger. It was God made man. 
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Mary, the holy 
Mother, leaned over the Child. Then she held 
out her mother-arms, and to the face of the Infant 
there came a smile that delighted the angels in 
heaven. On the other side of the manger stood 
Joseph, silent and dignified, — the blessed foster- 

father of Jesus, — in mute adoration, offering up 
5 


6 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


his time, his work, his love to the holy Child. 
And the Child turned His sweet face upon 
Joseph, too, and blessed and strengthened him 
by that look, so that he might have the grace to 
be the worthy guardian of his Lord. The Holy 
Family is the name of the blessed union which 
we see for the first time at Bethlehem. Over it 
heaven opens and God the Father looks down 
upon His Son, the Good of all good, given into 
the keeping of Mary and Joseph. 

“ Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! ” Speak these holy 
names often, especially when you are tempted to 
do wrong, for a wonderful grace is in them. 

Hot as the mighty Judge to whom the chosen 
people of the Old Testament looked up in fear 
and trembling did Our Lord and Saviour come 
upon the earth to save us. His infinite love 
moved Him to become a weak and helpless Child, 
that we might go to Him without awe, full of 
trusting faith and utter resignation. And it is 
for the love of children, therefore, that the loving 
heart of the Child of Bethlehem longs most. Do 
you know that, you little ones, who are still in the 
tender years of innocence? But the big ones are 
meant, too. They must become as children, sim- 
ple, patient, humble child-souls, full of trust and 
good will, if they would know the whole sweet- 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


7 


ness of the Christ-Child, if the peace greeting of 
the angels is to be a blessed truth to them. 

To suffer and to die for a sinful world the Child 
Jesus came. His suffering begins even with His 
birth. In the time of winter, in a stable, in pov- 
erty, Jesus is born. And He loves this poverty 
and has chosen it to draw those to Him who have 
none of this world’s goods. Poor shepherds are 
those to whom He first reveals Himself, and not 
to the great and the distinguished of the world. 

Do you, too, love poverty. Do not pass it by 
in pride, but remember that the poor are the spe- 
cial friends of God. 

From His birth the Christ-Child loved His 
Mother. In her arms He receives the adoration 
of the shepherds due to His diving. In this 
way Jesus wants to let His Mother share in His 
glory and to lend to her a reflection of His eter- 
nal light. 

The Child Jesus loved His foster-father from 
His birth, too. By that first look He raised him 
to a height of inexpressible grace and holiness. 

So, children, you also should love your parents. 
As the Child Jesus loved and honored His parents, 
so should you, too. A particular reward is prom- 
ised for obeying the Fourth Commandment. 

Eight days after the birth of the Christ-Child 


8 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


He was circumcised. Circumcision was com- 
manded by God in the Old Testament. It was the 
mark by which the Israelite was taken into the 
covenant of the chosen people of God. It was 
also a reminder of original sin and the atonement 
that must follow. Mary knew well that her Child, 
as the Son of God, needed no atonement and no 
circumcision, but with willing obedience she al- 
lowed the painful ceremony to be performed. 
And Jesus suffered it, because it was His wish to 
suffer. 

Bear all pains, dear children, with patience for 
the sake of the suffering Saviour. 

The Wise Men from the East, guided by the 
star, came and adored the Child and laid their 
gifts at His feet. How the heart of Mary must 
have rejoiced to see her Child so honored and 
adored! And while the Wise Men knelt, Jesus 
rested in her arms. How they must have looked 
with eyes of veneration upon the Blessed Virgin! 

Always try to give your parents pleasure, chil- 
dren. 

Forty days after His birth Jesus was presented 
to the Lord in the Temple at Jerusalem. Here 
the aged and God-fearing Simeon recognized the 
Child as the promised Messias. He took Him in 
His arms, praised God, and said: “Now Thou 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


9 


dost dismiss Thy servant, 0 Lord, according to 
Thy word in peace: because my eyes have seen 
Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before 
the face of all peoples. A light to the revelation 
of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people 
Israel/’ And the Child’s father and Mother were 
wondering at these things which were spoken of 
Him. And then Simeon blessed them and said: 
" Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the 
resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign 
which shall be contradicted: and thy own soul a 
sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts 
thoughts may be revealed.” And Mary, in her 
anxiety for her beloved Child, then felt the first 
pang of that sword which was to pierce her 
mother-heart seven times. 

And then a prophetess in the Temple, Anna, 
"coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of 
Him to all that looked for the redemption of 
Israel. And after they had performed all things 
according to the law of the Lord, they returned 
into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. x\nd the 
Child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom: 
and the grace of God was in Him.” 

Pray often, children, to the Child Jesus that 
the wisdom and grace of God may dwell in you, 
too. 


10 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


At the bidding of an angel, Mary and Joseph 
had to fly to Egypt to escape the bloody plans of 
Herod. This was the second pang that came to 
the heart of Mary. The holy parents guarded the' 
Child most faithfully. They had to contend with 
many dangers and hardships, but Mary and 
Joseph bore them all with heavenly patience, and 
the divine Child was eager to suffer on earth for 
our sake. And do we strive to deserve this great 
love? 

After the death of Herod the Holy Family re- 
turned to Galilee, at the bidding again of an angel. 
And there they took up their dwelling in the 
house at Nazareth. Here the Holy Family passed 
a few years in sweetest peace and undisturbed 
quiet. 

When the Boy J esus was twelve years old, Mary 
and Joseph took Him up to Jerusalem, according 
to the Jewish law. In the Temple the Easter 
feast, the Passover, was being celebrated. When 
the days of the feast were at an end the holy 
parents prepared to return. But, oh woe! the 
Child could not be found. By a provision of 
Providence He had remained behind in the Tem- 
ple. He seated Himself among the Scribes and 
listened to them and questioned them. And all 
who heard Him were astounded at His under- 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


11 


standing and at His answers. In the meantime 
Mary and Joseph were in the greatest anxiety. 
At last they consoled themselves with the thought 
that Jesus might be with their kinsfolks and 
friends and have gone on with them. So they 
left J erusalem and went home. But imagine their 
fright when they arrived at the place of the first 
night-rest and did not find the Boy Jesus! They 
at once returned to Jerusalem and sought for 
three days with sore-distressed hearts for the Boy. 
And then Mary received the third pang which was 
to pierce her loving mother-heart. On the third 
day they found Jesus seated among the Scribes in 
the Temple, listening and questioning while all 
marvelled. Their anxiety was turned into rejoic- 
ing, but the holy Mother had suffered too much 
to forget at once. So she said to Jesus: “ My 
Son, why hast Thou done so to us?” Jesus was 
surprised that they should not have guessed where 
He was. He answered, therefore, with the mean- 
ing words : “ Did you not know that I must be 

about My Father’s business ? 99 

Truly, a pointed lesson for all children to be 
diligent in visiting the house of God and to attend 
the Holy Sacrifice, as well as the sermons! . 

The Boy Jesus now went back to Nazareth with 
Mary and Joseph and “was subject to them. And 


12 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


His Mother kept all these words in her heart. 
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace 
with God and men.” 

The hidden life of Jesus, as the Scriptures 'de- 
scribe the life of Jesus after the first stay in 
the Temple, should he your particular example. 
Quietly and simply Jesus lived in Nazareth. He 
helped His father, the carpenter, faithfully at his 
labors, and read the wishes of His Mother in her 
eyes. Prayerfully and laboriously His days 
passed until He was thirty years old, when His 
public teaching began. Up to that time Jesus, 
the eternal God, remained obedient to human 
beings. How many a child that has barely out- 
grown school wants to act independently and 
without consideration of its parents, to their hit- 
ter grief and to its own destruction! How humble 
was Jesus at all times! He had a high mission to 
fulfil, yet He was not eager to rush into public 
life. In the workshop of a carpenter He shut 
Himself up. How many a youth full of great 
plans leaves his father’s house because its life is 
too narrow! How many a one is ashamed of the 
humble standing of his father! Christ lived in 
innocence in the house of His parents up to the 
time of His thirtieth year. 

Children should often contemplate the life 


THE CHILD JESUS. 


13 


of the Child J esus, for it is the mirror of all vir- 
tues for them. 

They should do this particularly at Christmas- 
time — the glad, merry, blessed grace-bringing 
time. Look upon the beautiful feast not only as 
a time of many presents, gay pleasures, Christmas- 
trees, and so on, hut prepare rather a manger in 
your own heart by prompt obedience, ardent 
prayer, and little sacrifices, that you may become 
worthy of receiving the Christ-Child in your heart 
as the sweetest and dearest gift of the season. 



ST. AGNES. 

St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, was born in 
Rome 291 years after the birth of Christ. Her 
parents were rich Christians, and the name given 
her means “ lamb.” A lovely name and one of 
great meaning, when we remember that it meant 
that Agnes would follow forever the spotless 
Lamb of God. 

Even in her tenderest childhood Agnes was full 
of the fear of God and faithfully obeyed His com- 
mandments. Above all she loved purity, that 
most precious ornament of the Christian soul. 
In her tenth year she vowed herself to eternal 
virginity and chose to be a spouse of Christ. In 
angelic innocence, in prayer, and in works of 
charity her days passed gently. Thus she grew 
to be thirteen years old. 

In those far-away times it was the custom of 
parents to betroth their children in early youth. 
Then later the marriage took place. And thus it 
happened that Agnes, one day when she was re- 
14 



ST. AGNES. 


15 


turning from a house to which she went to receive 
instruction, was seen by a pagan youth, the son 
of the tribune Symphronius. Her lovely appear- 
ance and noble bearing so pleased the youth that 
he wished to become betrothed to her. He made 
his desire known to his parents, and to win the 
favor of Agnes offered her presents of costly 
pearls and precious stones. Many another maiden 
would have been dazzled by these gifts, but Agnes 
only answered: 

“ Do not try to win me, for I can not consent, 
as I am promised to another.” 

The pagan youth did not dream that she spoke 
of Christ, and that she was a Christian. He 
thought instead that the maiden was promised to 
some one else, and grieved so over her loss that he 
became ill. Then his father sent for Agnes and 
said to her: “ See, my son is pining away and 
will die for your sake.” 

Agnes answered gently: “ And am I permitted 
to break the promise I gave my first Bride- 
groom ? ” 

“ Who,” asked the tribune, “ is this Bridegroom 
to whom you have plighted your troth and whom 
you prefer to my son?” 

Then Agnes answered solemnly: <e It is Christ.” 

At this confession the Roman felt a delight 


16 


ST. AGNES. 


which he concealed, for, as a Christian, Agnes was 
in his power. Yon must know, children, that at 
that time the followers of Christ were bitterly 
hated and crnelly persecuted in Rome. Sym- 
phronius, as tribune, could summon Agnes to be 
heard and condemned as he saw fit. But first he 
thought to try the effect of persuasion and flat- 
tery. Therefore he took her aside and spoke 
kindly to her. But Agnes acted as though she 
did not hear. Then the tribune tried threats. 
"If you do not deny Christ,” he said, "I shall 
have you tortured and burned alive.” 

The lictors were ordered to drag Agnes before 
the idols, that she might strew an offering of in- 
cense on the glowing coals on their altar. As 
her hands were tied, she was unbound that she 
might do so, but at once she made the sign of tho 
cross instead. With that act she publicly ac- 
knowledged the Christian faith. 

Now the angry tribune planned to set snares 
for her virtue. But Agnes knew to whom to turn 
in her trouble and trials. "Jesus Christ,” she 
said, "is not so indifferent to the purity of His 
brides that He will allow them to be robbed of 
their virtue.” Her faith was beautifully re- 
warded. An angel of God protected her inno- 
cence. Dazzling light shone about the virgin, so 



ST. AGNES. 














































ST. A ONES. 


17 


that all were affrighted. A youth who tried to 
approach her in an unbecoming way was struck 
dead by the angel. It was the son of Symphronius. 
Agnes knelt down and prayed for him, and he 
came back to life. He then acknowledged Christ, 
praised the miracle, and became a Christian him- 
self. 

When the servants of the pagan gods heard this, 
they were infuriated. They wrought up the peo- 
ple so that a mob gathered, crying: “ Death to 
the sorceress! Down with her! ” 

How the tribune would have liked to free the 
maiden who had given back life to his son, but 
he did not dare to do so, for the mob threatened 
to complain to Cassar if he did not avenge their 
gods. In his cowardice he turned Agnes over to 
the tribune Aspasius and sadly withdrew. 

Aspasius at once condemned Agnes to be , 
burned at the stake. But behold! the flames did 
not hurt the pure bride of Christ. They parted, 
and burned the people standing to the right 
and to the left. And these clamored once more 
against the sorceress. Then the tribune or- 
dered Agnes to be put into an iron cradle made 
red hot. But Agnes did not shrink. “ How I am 
becoming a child again,” she said joyfully, “ and 
heaven belongs to children.” This time, too. 


ST. AGNES. 


38 

she remained unharmed. Then Aspasius, in a 
rage, ordered that she be put to death by the 
sword. Calmly and cheerfully she heard the or- 
der, and suffered herself to be led to the place of 
execution. Her tender youfh, the innocence 
which threw a halo about her, moved many people 
to tears. Even the executioner trembled. “ Do 
what it is your office to do,” Agnes urged; “ even 
now the heavenly Bridegroom is waiting for me. 
May this body, which has attracted eyes I do not 
wish to charm, perish! ” Then she received the 
fatal blow. Her body was destroyed, but her 
pure soul rose to the longed-for union with the 
heavenly Bridegroom. It was in the year of Our 
Lord 304. 

The parents buried their holy child on a 
small estate which they possessed near Borne. 
Many miracles glorified the tomb. Once when 
the parents were praying at the holy place in the 
silent night Agnes appeared to them in heavenly 
radiance. She carried a lighted lamp in her hand, 
and a lamb on her arm. Many radiant virgins 
surrounded her. The saint, however, said: “ Do 
not weep nor mourn for me. Bejoice rather, for I 
am now united with Jesus in heaven, with Jesus 
whom I loved above all things on earth.” 

Behold, my dear children, what wonderful re- 


ST, AGNES. 


19 


ward is given to purity, for it is of surpassing 
merit in the eyes of God. God has commanded 
angels to watch over you, to help you keep this 
purity. 

“ Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall 
see God/’ Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. 
Do you want to risk losing the joy of dwelling 
forever in the presence of God because of an act 
of impurity? 

“ Chastity makes angels,” said St. Ambrose. 
The chaste are angels; who loses chastity is a 
devil. 



ST. GERMAINE. 

God’s flowers may bloom anywhere. On a hum- 
ble shepherd’s field bloomed the holy Germaine. 
She was born in Pibrac, a village in southern 
France, not far from Toulouse, in the year 1579. 
Her parents, Laurence Cousin and Marie Laroche, 
were poor in earthly goods, but rich in piety and 
the fear of God. Germaine was the only child. 
She was so delicate when she was born that it was 
thought she would soon return to the good God. 
But her mother nursed her so carefully that her 
life was spared. As the child grew, the good 
mother added spiritual care to the care of the 
body. She taught her child to pra}^, and to love 
God above all things and keep His command- 
ments. And what she taught in words she 
strengthened by her own example. Little Ger- 
maine remembered everything carefully, and it 
was her dearest delight to pray. The faults and 
habits that have to be punished so often in other 
children were never noticed in Germaine. She 
20 



ST. GERMAINE. 


21 


showed no self-will nor impatience, untruthful- 
ness, nor over-fondness of pleasure or fun. Her 
pleasure seemed to be to go to church and kneel 
for hours before the Blessed Sacrament. 

Herself a child of poverty, Germaine loved the 
poor. She looked upon them as the sisters and 
brothers of the little Child J esus in His poverty, 
and gave them the alms which the mother could 
spare out of their small means. Then Germaine 
began to ail. Painful sores covered her tender 
body. Most other children would have cried, and 
complained, and fretted. Germaine offered up 
her sufferings to the Saviour on the cross. But 
when Germaine was six years old the sores and 
sickness left her, and she grew and bloomed like 
a flower set in the sun and dew. All who saw her 
wondered at the heavenly sweetness which seemed 
to surround her presence. But this sweetness was 
only a reflection of her pure and holy soul. When 
she was seven years old, the priest of the village 
thought her worthy to receive her first holy com- 
munion. The child was most happy at this un- 
usual privilege, but her mother became ill and 
Germaine had to nurse her. So the priest delayed 
giving her the Holy Sacrament. 

Then the mother died and, instead of her kind- 
ness and piety as an example, Germaine now had 


22 


ST. GERMAINE \ 


to suffer the tempers and punishments of a serv- 
ant whom her father took into the house to do 
the household work. So patient was the child and 
so quietly she took the exactions of the servant 
woman, that at last the woman was moved to 
change her hard and cruel behavior. 

But even then a new trial was coming to Ger- 
maine. Her father became very sick. She nursed 
him so patiently and faithfully that she herself 
became weak and sick. Her strength came back 
to her but slowly, and one hand remained lame 
for some time. Because her sick father could not 
earn any money he could not pay the servant 
either, so sin left. Then Germaine had to care 
for him and do the housework as well. But after 
a while there was nothing left to cook, and so the 
half-lame child must needs go beg from door to 
door for a little food. And you may be sure that 
she got many an unpleasant word and many a 
scolding on the way, though her angelic patience 
never left her. 

Then her father got better, and, to have a well- 
ordered home once more, he decided to marry 
again. But the person whom he married had 
deceived him as to her disposition. No sooner 
was she mistress in the house but she began to 
show her true self, which was cruel and coarse. 


ST. GERMAINE. 


23 


And now Germaine’s lot became harder than ever. 
Task upon task was given her to do, more than 
was in her strength. For reward she was scolded, 
and half-starved, and even beaten. The new chil- 
dren in the family were so many more little tor- 
ments to Germaine, for, encouraged by their 
mother, they treated her as their slave. But Ger- 
maine was ever-patient. Silently she bore her suf- 
ferings, out of love for the suffering Christ. Then 
one day the unfeeling woman said to Germaine: 
“ After this you shall herd the sheep and sleep in 
the stable. Here into the house you shall not 
come any more.” 

With heavenly resignation Germaine obeyed 
this command also. But Our Lord consoled the 
deserted maid. He was with her when she herded 
the sheep and at night when she prayed in the 
stable. As Germaine liked to hear Mass every 
morning, she would stick her shepherd’s crook 
into the ground and then, oh wonderful! the 
sheep would keep on feeding quietly around it and 
not one run away. Over the swollen creek Ger- 
maine could walk without sinking, without even 
wetting her feet. Celestial radiance often 
streamed about her in the stable, and angel voices 
sang so sweetly that the village people would stand 
outside and listen. 


u 


8T. GERMAINE. 


She divided her scanty food with a poor old 
woman. This her stepmother learned. “ Ah/ J she 
thought, “ Germaine is stealing food/'’ Furious 
at this thought, she ran after the child, heat her, 
and took her basket away from her. And, behold! 
the few pieces of bread that Germaine had saved 
from her own allowance to give to the old woman 
had become changed into beautiful flowers. Then 
at last her inhuman stepmother was moved by this 
plain evidence of the hand of God in protecting 
Germaine, and mended her ways, so that Ger- 
maine was now treated with kindness. She was 
now twenty-two years old, but her sufferings, 
borne for the sake of Christ, had become so dear 
to her that she asked to be allowed to continue 
sleeping in the stable. 

One night when she was thus sleeping an 
angel appeared to her with the welcome mes- 
sage that she would soon receive her heavenly 
reward. A holy joy filled the virgin at this. 
Eagerly she prepared herself for death. A 
sudden illness seized her; she received the sacra- 
ments with touching devotion and then asked of 
her parents: “ Carry me once more to my sheep 
and leave me alone over night.” It was done as 
she asked. When the parents went to the stable 
in the morning they saw the saint lying on the 



ST. GERMAINE. 



























































































" 






ST. GERMAINE. 


25 


straw as if asleep. Her face was pleasant, for her 
soul had gone to the Good Shepherd. 

What is the virtue that particularly impresses 
us in St. Germaine, dear children? Christian 
patience, is it not? And how did she obtain the 
grace to be so patient under the greatest provoca- 
tions and sufferings? Chiefly through the con- 
templation of the sufferings of Christ. She felt 
how much the Son of God had suffered and she 
thought that she, a sinful human being, should 
not rebel at affliction. And so she bore all things 
quietly and cheerfully. By her patience she won 
heaven. Shall we not try to do the same? 



ST. CASIMIR. 

At Cracow, in the year 1456, a son was born to 
the Polish king Casimir III. The child was given 
the name Casimir at Baptism. The pious mother, 
Elizabeth, together with learned and God-fearing 
instructors, watched over the childhood of the 
prince. He showed a mind most open to all teach- 
ings and advice. And, as a flower turns to the 
sun, so his heart and soul turned ever to God. 

From his earliest childhood he delighted in 
prayer. He could not look upon a crucifix with- 
out having tears come into his eyes. He was es- 
pecially devoted to the Blessed Virgin. To her 
care he commended the purity of his soul. And 
his observance of this virtue was angelic. Once 
when he heard a lewd word at a strange table he 
fainted in horror. In his tender youth he vowed 
himself to chastity, and this vow he kept faith- 
fully until his holy death. 

The splendor and festivities, amusements, and 

display of the royal court tempted neither the 
26 



ST. CASIMIR. 


27 


boy nor the youth. He preferred to he with Jesus 
in prayer, in self-denial, in mortifications, in 
charity, and thus to serve Him. Under the costly 
dress that was deemed fitting for a prince he 
wore the hair shirt of the penitent. At night he 
scorned to rest on a soft bed, and slept instead on 
the hard floor. Early in the morning he arose 
and said his prayers. Then he hastened to Mass. 
If he found the church-door still locked, he hon- 
ored at least the entrance of the house of God, 
by kissing the door. Often the sexton found him 
kneeling on the hard stones before the church- 
door. At Mass he was filled with such devotion 
that one felt as if looking at an angel. After the 
Holy Sacrifice he remained in the church so long 
in prayer and meditation that his royal parents 
would have to send messengers to call him to 
meals. 

He saw the tempting food of the royal table 
without desire. Indeed he ate so little that he 
kept a continual fast. “ The kingdom of God id 
not food and drink,” he said. He guarded againsi 
loud talking and gossiping. If he had to speak-, 
he did so in a gentle voice and modestly. His 
most frequent topic was God and His works. Nd 
one ever heard a backbiting or unkind word from 
his lips. 


2 $ 


ST. CASIMIR . 


Pride and haughtiness had no place in his soul. 
The poor and the suffering he looked upon as his 
brothers and permitted them to come into the 
court of the royal palace and gave them alms with 
his own hand. The courtiers shook their heads. 
“ Such associations,” they said, “ are not becom- 
ing to a prince.” Then Casimir answered, “ I 
know no greater honor than to serve Jesus and 
His poor.” 

Grown to manhood, Casimir found more pleas- 
ure in visiting Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament 
than in dancing, playing, and hunting. He often 
arose in the middle of the night to go to the 
chapel and pray. In praise of Mary he composed 
a Latin song. This he sang every day on his 
knees. 

He might have been king of Hungary, but he 
would have had to hold the crown against an 
' enemy. So the prince answered: “ I do not want 
a crown that is stained by the blood of my sub- 
jects.” He looked rather upon the crown of 
thorns of the Saviour, than upon the golden crown 
of an earthly ruler. 

His parents and friends thought that, like the 
other princes, he ought to take a wife. But Casi- 
mir refused. He wanted to live in virginity and 
die so. And this resolution he defended in a 


ST. GASIMIR. 


29 


severe sickness into which he fell when he was in 
his twenty-fifth year. Through the reception of 
the last- sacraments and fervent prayer he pre- 
pared for the heavenly bridal. “ I know no other 
refuge, no other life, but Christ,” he said. “I 
desire to pass away and be united with Him, my 
Lord.” 

His strength failed quickly. In the early morn- 
ing hour on the 4th of March, 1483, he gave 
up his pure soul, to receive its eternal crown from 
the King of kings. 

Rich children who have in superfluity food, drink, 
beautiful clothes, and amusements, are in great 
dangei' of becoming idle, vain, proud, selfish, and 
thereby suffer a loss to their spiritual life. There- 
fore, Casimir, the son of a king, has become a 
model for all rich children, teaching them not to 
give their hearts to the passing pleasures of this 
world and thereby lose the eternal joys of heaven. 



ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

St. Anne, whose name means “ grace ” was 
born in Bethlehem. She belonged to the tribe of 
Jndah and to the royal house of David. After 
Anne had passed her youth in spotless purity she 
was married to Joachim, a Galilean of Nazareth. 
Both were righteous before God and lived in His 
fear and in purity of heart according to His com- 
mandments. But one blessing was denied these 
good people. They had no child. This pained 
them very much, for childlessness was a shame in 
Israel. But instead of complaining, Joachim and 
Anne submitted humbly to the will of God. Their 
days were passed in labor, prayer, and good works. 
And in their prayers they naturally sent up many 
a petition for the child that was denied them, and 
at last vowed that if one were given them they 
would especially consecrate it to the service of the 
Lord. And then when Anne, who was becoming 
old, was one day walking in her garden, God sent 
an angel to her with the promise that she should 
30 



ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN 31 


have a child who would be the admiration of all 
And to Joachim, who was herding his sheep in 
the hills, an angel appeared, also with the same 
message. And the Lord kept His promise. Anne 
became the joyful mother of that Most Blessed 
Virgin whom we revere as the Immaculate Mother 
of the Saviour. 

The child of grace was given the name Mary 
on the ninth day. A wonderfully lovely name, 
but also one having much meaning. It means 
mistress, sea, star of the sea. And we know how 
these three meanings come true in the Blessed 
Virgin. Mary is the Queen of Heaven; Mary is 
the Sea of Grace; Mary is the Star of the Sea to 
which all Catholics look up, like sailors on storm- 
tossed ships, for guidance through the storms of 
life to help them reach the eternal port of heaven. 

Mary was not born in luxury. Her parents were 
humble people, although they had such noble an- 
cestry. They lived a hidden and quiet life. Mary, 
the mystic rose, was destined to unfold her bloom 
on a bare branch, under the pressure of need. 
The cradle of the Queen of the angels was not orna- 
mented with carved designs, nor covered with 
costly hangings, nor perfumed with sweet-smell- 
ing ointments, as were the cradles of the children 
of the Hebrew princes of that time. It was woven 


32 ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 


out of pliant withes, and coarse linens enveloped 
the tender arms that were one day to carry the 
Saviour. The first smiles of Mary fell upon poor 
women of the people who bent over her cradle to 
admire Anne’s late-come child. St. Anne thanked 
Our Lord for her daughter in a song of praise 
which tradition has preserved to us and which 
tells the delight of her mother-heart. 

The love, the patience, and the industry with 
which Anne cared for her child are indescribable. 
She knew through the message of the angel that 
Mary was destined for high honors by God. This 
was enough inspiration for her to do all she could 
for her child. And in raising the child she had 
no trouble, for the understanding of Mary was 
far beyond her years, while a more than angelic 
innocence and purity seemed to speak out of 
everything she did. The graces which Anne re- 
ceived through her blessed child must have been 
unspeakably great. For if the house of Zachary 
and Elizabeth was blest by the mere visit of Mary, 
how much more blest must have been Anne, 
who was permitted to nurse Mary in her tender 
childhood for three years. Remembering her 
vow, Anne brought her daughter to the Temple in 
Jerusalem when she was barely three years old, 
so that she might be entirely given up to the 



ST. CASIMIR. 


















' 





ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 33 

service of God. To be sure, the parting was sore 
for the loving parents, but for the sake of the 
Lord they made the sacrifice joyfulfy. At the 
golden portal of the Temple the venerable high 
priest received the beauteous little maid. Angels 
spread their wings over her and strewed flowers 
before her, singing heavenly songs the while, as 
St. Andrew of Crete and St. George of Hicomedia 
relate. 

After Joachim and Anne had bowed down in 
the holy Temple on their faces in adoration of the 
true God, they returned to their homes, while 
Mary served the Lord with the other maidens of 
the Temple. 

How long Anne lived after Mary was brought 
to the Temple, and if it was given her to see the 
Saviour, the divine Son of her blessed daughter, 
is not known. According to some historians she 
died a widow in the seventy-ninth year of her life. 

St. Anne was the first to venerate Mary, 
with what fervor her holy life shows us. Fol- 
low, dear children, the example of St. Anne 
and venerate Mary, the Queen of Heaven, the 
Sea of Grace, the Star of the Ocean, the 
virgin Mother of Christ. Extraordinary graces 
were given to St. Anne. See, for you, too, 
Mary will obtain graces if you petition her 


34 ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 


every day, every hour. Who prays to the 
purest of Virgins will be protected from sins to 
which thousands succumb. Him, however, who 
has the misfortune to fall into sin, Mary will help 
to obtain the grace of repentance. Our holy 
Mother the Church recommends, as the foremost 
means of grace, the Angelus, the litany of Loretto, 
and the Eosary. The Blessed Virgin herself made 
known to St. Gertrude that the Angelus was 
dearest to her. Christendom unites in the ven- 
eration of the Blessed Virgin through the litany 
of Loretto, imploring her intercession by a num- 
ber of tender and poetical names. The Kosarv 
is the most fruitful of the prayers. Bse these 
three means of grace every day, dear children, and 
you will tind in Mary a mother and a refuge in 
life and in death. 



ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 

The dear St. Elizabeth, our St. Elizabeth, as 
the German people like to call her, was the daugh- 
ter of King Andrew II. of Hungary, and was 
born in the } : ear 1207. The little princess was 
carried to her Baptism followed by a grand pro- 
cession. She was most carefully trained $nd 
taught, and from her earliest childhood she loved 
God and the poor. 

'When she was barely four years old she was 
taken away from her parents to live among 
strangers. You will ask why. My dear children, 
in those days it was the custom to promise 
children in marriage at their birth or soon after. 
So Elizabeth was promised to Louis, the son 
of the landgrave of Thuringia, in Germany. With 
an escort of many nobles, of horsemen, and 
of servants, Elizabeth was taken to the IVartburg 
near Eisenach. Here Elizabeth and Louis were 
solemnly betrothed, and were then raised to- 
gether. 


o ^ 
o 0 



36 ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 

The noisy life at the castle of the landgrave 
did not prevent Elizabeth from giving np her 
childish heart to Onr Lord, the Blessed Virgin, 
and the beloved St. John. Prayer and self-denial 
were her constant occupations. Even in her play 
she kept God' in mind, and the least shadow of 
impurity was shunned by her. She had no mind 
for pride 6f dress and display. Once on the feast 
of the Assumption, she was dressed in silk and 
crowned with a little golden crown by the Count- 
ess Sophia, who was to be her mother-in-law, and 
was then taken to the church at Eisenach. She 
knelt down before a picture of the crucified Sa- 
viour, and after a little she took the golden crown 
from her head and wept to think that she, a poor 
creature, should have appeared before our thorn- 
crowned Redeemer in such costly attire. 

In her childhood Elizabeth took particular de- 
light in temporal and spiritual works of mercy. 
She always gave her pin-money to the poor, with 
the hope that they would say a Hail Mary for her. 
She gathered up the food left over from meals and 
gave it to the hungry. * Once she went to a ceme- 
tery with her playmates. There she said to them: 
“ The people who are buried here were once liv- 
ing, as we are. iN T ow they are dead, as we will 
some day be. Therefore we should love God. And 


&T. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 


37 


now please say after me: Christ, through Thy 
hitter death and through Thy dear Mother Mary, 
deliver the souls from their sufferings in purga- 
tory, and give us who are living Thy grace, that 
we may attain to the eternal joy of heaven.” 

As long as the landgrave lived, things were 
pleasant for Elizabeth. After his death his widow 
Sophia and her daughter Agnes, who were both 
worldly minded and lax in religious matters, made 
it very hard for Elizabeth. Because she liked to 
serve the poor, these ladies called her a servant 
and not a princess. Even the nobility made fun 
of her. She was like a lamb among wolves. They 
even tried to turn Louis, her promised husband, 
against her. They told him to send her to a con- 
vent. But in vain, for Louis valued her angelic 
patience and her piety. 

In her fifteenth year she was married. Eliza- 
beth was very happy with her young husband, and 
he, being a most God-fearing man, allowed her to 
go on with her ]hous practices. She visited the 
sick, helped the needy, and would spin and weave 
clothing for the poor with her own hands. As an 
angel of mercy she appeared in the humble homes 
which she visited. The many roses blooming on 
the Wartburg keep the memory of the lovely mira- 
cle of roses fresh to this day. Once when Eliza- 


33 


ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 


beth had a basket of food for the poor under her 
cloak, her husband stopped her and asked what 
she had there. Blushing to tell her own charity, 
she answered, “ Boses to weave a wreath for my- 
self/’ He asked to see them, and when he turned 
back her cloak the basket was full of roses. 

A famine which desolated Thuringia in 1225 
and caused great misery gave Elizabeth oppor- 
tunity to increase her charity. She built two 
hospitals and fed nine hundred poor every day. 
At that time there were many lepers. Every one 
shrank in disgust from these poor wretches, but 
not Elizabeth. She loved them for Christ’s sake. 
With her own hands she bathed them, and combed 
their hair, sat with them, and cheered and en- 
couraged them to trust and hope in God. 

After Elizabeth had had six years of happiness, 
the Lord put a heavy trial upon her. Her be- 
loved husband died in a crusade in which he had 
joined with other Christian princes for the rescue 
of the Holy Land. His brother Henry usurped 
his place and turned Elizabeth with her four 
young children out of the Wartburg. It was in 
the middle of winter, and the outcast princess was 
not permitted to take a thing with her. The 
daughter of a king was poorer than the poorest 
beggar, for the new lord- of the land had even 


ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 


39 


forbidden his subjects to give her and her hungry 
and freezing children shelter and food. At last 
an innkeeper near Eisenach gave the wanderers 
leave to sleep in his stable. And here the princess 
and her children were glad to take refuge. “ For 
shame/’ you think, my dear children. But not 
so Elizabeth. When the midnight bell of the 
Franciscan Church called the brothers to matins 
the saint went to the church and asked the broth- 
ers to sing the Te Deum in thanksgiving that she 
was vouchsafed to find shelter in a stable, even 
as Mary had been in Bethlehem. 

Elizabeth went from Eisenach to Bamberg, 
where her uncle took her under his protection. 
He was the Bishop of Bamberg, and succeeded in 
persuading her brother-in-law to give back the 
city of Marburg and its revenues to Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth forgave her brother-in-law and never 
spoke a word of blame against him, but she did 
not want to know anything more of the world. 
She chose a hut outside of Marburg for her dwell- 
ing and took the habit of the Third Order of St. 
Francis on Good Friday of the year 1229. Her 
beloved children she gave up for the sake of 
Christ after having arranged for their right edu- 
cation and training, and she herself lived only 
for prayer, work, and the care of the sick. She 


40 ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 

g$xe all her income to the poor, and lived only on 
bread and meat cooked in water. 

On the 19th of November, 1231, her pure soul, 
ornamented by so many merits and virtues, passed 
back to its Maker. She was buried in Marburg, 
where a beautiful church has been built in her 
honor. 

Be charitable, is the lesson of St. Elizabeth's 
life. And indeed it is a most important lesson. 
Great blessings, temporal and spiritual, especially 
the grace of obtaining eternal life, are promised 
those who give out of Christian charity, and par- 
ticularly those who do the temporal acts of mercy. 
Who gives to the poor will have no need, but he 
who despises the prayer of the needy, will him- 
self suffer poverty. And St. Paul entreats us not to 
forget to be charitable, for by such things God 
is reconciled. 

Do not say, dear children, you have nothing to 
give. Your bread and butter, or your apple, can 
be divided with a poor child. The pennies which 
you keep for candy and sweets may sometimes be 
saved to give in charity. You can wait on the 
sick, or give to some one thirsty and tired a glass 
of water. Even the drink of water given in the 
name of Jesus will not miss its reward. 

What we do for the least of our fellow beings, 



ST. ANNE AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN 


















. 

























ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY. 41 

if we do it for the love of God, is as though we 
had done it to Christ Himself. Once St. Eliza- 
beth was asked to attend a banquet which her 
husband was giving in honor of some of the high- 
est nobles in the land, and he asked that she 
wear her finest robes for this reason. On the way 
to the banquet St. Elizabeth was stopped by a 
beggar who was almost naked, and who did not 
cease from begging for clothing. She took off her 
cloak and gave it to him. Before she entered the 
banquet-hall an unknown youth stepped up to 
her and handed back her cloak. Who was this 
youth? Perhaps an angel; perhaps even Our 
Lord Himself. Who knows? 


THE BLESSED HERMANN JOSEPH. 


Hermann was the son of poor hut God-fearing 
parents, who lived in Cologne on the Rhine. He 
must have been horn about the year 1200. In the 
humble living-room of his parents’ house (here 
was a little house-altar with a statue ' of the 
Blessed Virgin. Here his mother would often 
kneel, her eyes raised to the image of the Virgin. 
Before Hermann understood why she did this, he 
imitated her example and knelt down beside her, 
his childish eyes fixed upon the statue. The 
longer he looked at it, the more lovely the features 
of Mary became to him. Thus the picture of Mary 
and Jesus became enshrined in his heart, and in 
the humble room Hermann was joyous and happv 
because Mary and Jesus were always with him. 

After Hermann grew a little older his mother 
told him of Jesus and Mary and then he wanted 
to be taken to church. His mother took him to 
the Church of Our Lady. Here he would kneel 
before the statue of the Blessed Virgin like a little 
42 




THE BLESSED HERMANN JOSEPH. 


43 


angel, and, as a child speaks with his mother, so 
Hermann told to Mary every day all his little 
joys and sorrows. 

As he showed great readiness in studying, his 
parents made up their minds to let him go to 
school. This did not cost much at that time, as 
the monks took the children of the poor free of 
cost. Hermann was sent to the Premonstraten- 
sian monks. He studied well, but never neglected 
his dear Mother in heaven. When the other boys 
were playing at refcess, he would slip into the 
church near-by and spend his free time before the 
altar of Mary. Kneeling on the steps he would 
talk in his accustomed way with the Blessed 
Mother and her divine Child. Once he came into 
the church with an apple in his hand and offered 
it to the Child Jesus. “ See, Mother/’ he said. 
“ what a beautiful apple I have brought for 
Jesus." And the story is that Our Lady took the 
apple out of the hand of the trustful child. 

As the child of poor people, Hermann some- 
times had but little to eat. In the morning he 
often got nothing but a piece of black bread. 
Then, too, his clothing was thin and barely kept 
him from the cold. What did he do? He con- 
soled himself by thinking of the poverty of the 
Christ-Child and His Blessed Mother in the stable 


44 THE BLEW ED HERMANN JOSEPH. 


at Bethlehem. And before the image he told his 
heavenly Mother of his hunger and his cold, say- 
ing, “ 0 Mother, help me.” 

And she did. One winter day when he was 
praying at her altar she said to him: “ Hermann, 
why are you barefoot in this cold weather? ” 
“ Because I have no shoes,” the boy answered. 
“ Then go to that rock,” Mary said to him; “ un- 
der it you will find money. Take it and buy shoes 
with it.” 

Hermann obeyed and found the money. Then 
Mary promised him if he would look under the 
rock every time he was in need he would alwaj’s 
find money enough there to get what he needed 
most. And so it was. When it became known 
later where the poor boy got money the other boys 
began to go to church, too, and to pray. But they 
had not Hermann’s innocence and faith, and Mary 
worked no miracle for them. 

When Hermann was twelve years old he was 
sent to the monastery at Steinfeld. Here he 
served for some time as sacristan, until the monks 
sent him to Frisia to be prepared for Holy Orders. 
In the novitiate Hermann was a model of piety 
and humility, of industry and obedience for all 
his fellow students. On account of his spotless 
purity and his fervent devotion to Mary, his com- 


THE BLESSED HERMANN JOSEPH. 45 


panions nicknamed him “ J oseph.” In his humble- 
ness Joseph protested against this name, but in 
vain. Then Mary made known to him in a vision 
that he should let himself be called Joseph. 

After returning to Steinfeld, Hermann Joseph 
received the habit and took the vows of the Order. 
At first the severest tasks were given him to do, 
such as caring for the refectory, and so on. When 
he grieved because so little time was left him 
for prayer and meditation, the Blessed Virgin ap- 
peared to him again, telling him that obedience 
was the most pleasing service that can be rendered 
to her divine Son and to her. Thereupon Her- 
mann waited upon his brothers with delight, 
though he himself ate little but bread and water. 
He only slept a few hours, and that on the hard 
floor. He wore the shabbiest habit and looked 
upon himself as the least of all in the monastery. 

Soon after this Hermann J oseph was appointed 
sacristan, and this service allowed him to spend 
much time before the altar of Mary. 

In Lent of the year 123G his superiors sent him 
to preach at the Convent of Hoven. When, sick 
and weak, he entered the convent church he drew 
the outline of a grave on the floor with his staff 
and said, “ Here you will bury me.” Soon after 
that he fell into a fever, the pains of which he 


46 THE BLESSED HEP MANN JOSEPH. 


bore patiently, saying: " As my Jesus wills.” 
On the 7th of April, 1266, he entered into the 
glory of Jesus and Mary, to behold it for all eter- 
nity. He was buried on the spot he had pointed 
out. 

All poor children can often have Jesus and 
Mary with them and may be happy in their com- 
pany, as was Hermann Joseph. All poor children 
may speak as trustingly to them as he did. Mary 
is the loving and helpful Mother of all who are 
in sorrow and tribulations. But we must pray 
to her fervently and hopefully. 

Think of another thing, children: When Her- 
mann Joseph took the vows of his Order lie chose 
to be forever poor. This is particularly pleasing 
to God and is rewarded with eternal life by Him. 
For the Saviour says: “If thou wilt be perfect, 
go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and 
thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, 
follow Me. Every one that hath left house, or 
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, 
or children, or lands for My name's sake shall re- 
ceive an hundredfold, and shall possess life ever- 
lasting.” 

Christ Himself was one of the poor of earth, 
from His birth to His death on the cross. He 
humbled Himself and took the form of a servant 


THE BLESSED HERMANN JOSEPH. 47 


among men that He might help us the more. 
Often He had not where to rest His head. For He 
said of Himself to the man who came to follow 
Him: “ The foxes have holes and the birds of 
the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not 
where to lay His head/ 5 

He who has the riches and treasures of this 
world takes care of them first; but he who has 
nothing can the better look after his soul. The 
heavier his pack, the harder it is for the traveller 
to go on; so earthly possessions are a drag on the 
way to heaven. 



ST. ROSE OF LIMA. 

The first saint which the new world gave to 
the Church came from the ancient Land of the 
Sun, Peru. It was St. Rose. She belonged to a 
noble Spanish family and was born in Lima in the 
year 1586. She received the name Isabella, which 
was changed to Rose after her mother beheld a 
wonderful rose floating over the cradle of the 
sleeping child. 

Even in her childhood Rose practised self-abne- 
gation and self-denial. As a tiny child she re- 
pressed her tears and moans when her thumb had 
to be cut off on account of an injury. With the 
same patience she submitted to incisions made 
necessary by a disease of the ear. She always 
thought of our suffering Saviour, who submitted 
to far greater pains for our sakes. She fasted 
three times in the week, taking nothing but water 
and bread, and allowed herself little more than 
vegetables for other days. She took but little 
sleep, and that on a hard bed. 

48 





£T. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY- 














































































ST. ROSE OF LIMA . 


49 


Rose was very beautiful in features and in 
form. But she looked upon beauty as a danger- 
ous gift, as it easily leads to vanity, and avoided 
everything that might attract notice. She even 
destroyed the delicate color of her skin by rubbing 
it with Cayenne pepper. Her beautiful hair she 
cut off. When misfortune suddenly befell her par- 
ents her devotion to them led her to try to think 
of means to help out. She planted her garden 
with flowers, made bouquets, and sent a servant 
out to sell them on the market-place. The pro- 
ceeds she gave to her mother. A clergyman asked 
her what she could do with her poor little flower 
trade. She answered: “ The profit is not great, it is 
true, but the Saviour knows how to increase it.” 

We have seen that Rose permitted no pride to 
come in her mind. Therefore she did not hesitate 
to take service as a maid in the household of a 
man named Gonsalvus. She worked busily at her 
i asks, day and night, without, however, interrupt- 
ing her communion with God. The other servants 
had no understanding for this holy life, and this 
caused them to do many unkind things to Rosa. 
But she bore it all patiently, for again she remem- 
bered the persecutions to which our dear Lord 
v r as subjected. 

An offer of marriage that would give her high 


50 


ST. ROSE OF LIMA. 


position and wealth was made to her. But Rose 
had early vowed her heart to the heavenly Bride- 
groom and she refused to comply with the worldly 
wishes of her parents. The praise of her beauty 
did not touch her, any more than the reproaches 
for her behavior could move her. At last she "was 
left to go her way in peace. 

In order to be able to fulfil her vow of virgin- 
ity the better, Rose joined the Third Order of St. 
Dominic, but remained the while with her parents. 
In a corner of the garden she built herself a cell 
out of boards and ornamented it with a crucifix 
and pictures of the saints. Here she spent most of 
her time, alternating prayer and meditation with 
work. She took particular delight in working for 
the decoration of churches and altars. The poor 
and sick of the city she visited diligently, but she 
scorned to make worldly calls merely for social 
pleasure. “ Even/ 1 she said, “ if the conversation 
is of God when visiting, I would yet rather speak 
to Him, than of Him.’’ The most poignant works 
of penance were her delight. On her head she wore 
a wreath of flowers with thorns turned inward 
to be like the thorn-crowned Saviour. If she spoke 
of God, she was like one inspired. Her face 
shone •with the ardor of the holy love with -which 
her spirit glowed. Extraordinary graces were* 


ST. HOSE OF LIMA. 


51 


vouchsafed her by God, but also great sufferings 
of body and of soul as well. But Rose was stead- 
fast, and did not cease to pray and to do works of 
charity and of penance. In her great love for 
prayer she even asked of the unreasoning crea- 
tures that they should praise God. This she did 
particularly in the case of a little bird, which came 
every evening during Lent and perched itself 
on the branch of a tree near Rose’s cell. Then 
the saint sang the following song to it: 

“ Come, thou little PL Home], 
liaise tliy voice unto the sky ; 

Let thy song His praises swell 
Whom the angels sing on high. 

“ Thy Creator’s praise from th^e, 

And my Saviour’s praise from me ; 

Deep the joy that wings our song 
Unto where it doth belong. 

“ Give thy music as thy part; 

I to Him will give my heart. 

Joining thus our gifts in turn, 

Growing fervor may we learn.” 

When Rose commenced to smg, the bird began 
also with a soft and mellow tone and trilled and 
piped louder and louder and more clearly its song 
of jubilee, until it ended. Then Rose began to 
sing again, and so they each took their turn for 
hours in singing the glory of Our Lord. 

After a long and painful illness the saint en- 


52 


ST. ROSE OF LIMA. 


tered into the glory of her heavenly Bridegroom 
on August 24, 1617. She was then thirty-one 
years old. Even her dead body still showed a 
lovely sweetness. 

The lesson that the life of St. Rose teaches, my 
dear children, is: no pride, no vanity. St. Rose 
had neither pride of the mind nor of the body. 
She did not think she was better nor more virtu- 
ous than others; she was not vain of her physical 
beauty; when her parents had become poor she 
did not hesitate to serve as a maid for their sake. 
And because she was not proud, she was active in 
visiting the poor and the sick of the city. He 
who is proud does not do that, for with pride goes 
hardness of heart, and a haughtiness towards our 
fellow beings. He who is proud puts himself' on 
the altar of his adoration, instead of God, and 
makes a god of himself. He makes life unbear- 
able for himself and for others, and at last comes 
to a fall. And, indeed, there is nothing more silly 
in a human being than pride. Everything that we 
have we owe to God only and we keep it only as 
long as God wills. How quickly beauty fades, how 
uncertain are riches, how dangerous are even 
genius and skill without humility and grace ! 

Among the seven deadly sins, pride is first. It 
is the most abhorred by God. The Holy Scrip- 


ST. MOST OF LIMA. 


53 


tures tell us that God resists the proud. On ac- 
count of pride Lucifer was cast out of heaven. 
Pride drove our first parents out of paradise and 
plunged the whole race in the misery of sin. 
Pride confused the tongues of the workers on the 
Tower of Babel. Pride brought the plague down 
on the legions of David. Pride degraded Xabu- 
chodonosor to the level of the beast, and it was 
pride that kept the Pharisee from being justified. 
Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled: 
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 



i 

| 

% 

i 



ST. ALOYSIUS OF GOYZAGA. 

The angelic St. Aloysius was the son of the 
margrave Ferdinand de Gonzaga and was born at 
Castle Castiglione in- the year 1568. 

By his pious mother, whose name was Martha, 
the germs of the fear of God and of the love of 
prayer were implanted in his mind in his earliest 
years. The first prayer taught the child was the 
Avc Maria, and he was so fond of it that he often 
repeated it in childish playfulness. Once, being- 
asked if he really loved Mary so ferventh r , he an- 
swered, with shining eyes, “ Of course; is she not 
my Mother?” 

As the son of noble parents, Aloysius had at 
his command the choicest food and drink and the 
costliest clothing. But he found no pleasure in 
these things. His delight was in communion with 
God. When he was only five years old he was 
sometimes found on his knees in a corner saying 
his prayers. To this custom of devout and per- 
sistent prayer, Aloysius remained faithful to his 
54 



ST. ALO YSIUS OF GONZAGA . 


55 


death, finding always an ever-increasing delight in 
speaking to Our Lord. 

His father intended his son for the army. For 
this reason he took him into camp when the boy 
was seven years old. Here Aloysius picked up 
some unbecoming words by hearing the soldiers 
talk. His tutor called his attention to them and 
explained that they were wicked. At once he re- 
pented having said them and wept to think he 
had offended God. But the grief at having of- 
fended God never left him, nor did his penance 
cease during life. 

Though he was a model of piety, even in his 
tenderest childhood, he was not content with 
that. In his seventh year, the year of his con- 
version, as he called it, he laid down for himself 
a more severe rule of life. To live only for God 
and in this way to become holy was the resolve he 
made. 

At twelve years Aloysius received his first holy 
communion from the hand of St. Charles Bor- 
romeo. After that he received holy communion 
every week with an angelic devotion. Three days 
of the week he spent in preparation and three 
more in thanksgiving. He visited Our Lord in 
the Blessed Sacrament as often as he could and 
adored Him with the most fervent prayer. 


56 


ST. A LOT SI US OF GONZAGA. 


The love of self-abnegation was so great in 
Aloysins that it is hard to understand how his 
tender body could hold out under such rigid works 
of penance. He is the shining example of inno- 
cence,, the innocent penitent. 

One day Aloysins was at prayer in a church dedi- 
cated to the Blessed Virgin. Full of fervent de- 
sire to offer up to her something which might be 
most acceptable, he took the vow of chastity be- 
fore her image. This vow he kept most sacredly. 
He guarded his eyes and all his senses; he avoided 
every possible occasion of sin and spent his time 
in prayer, labor, and pious exercises. In return, 
God gave him the grace of the greatest purity. 
Those who knew the youth assure us that the 
saint never had a single impure desire in his 
whole life and never violated his vow even in 
thought. 

His father. Count Ferdinand, had his mind 
fixed upon a worldly career for his son and sent him 
to Florence, and later to the Spanish court, which 
was at that time the most magnificent in Europe. 
Amid the brilliant festivities and the distractions 
of the court, Aloysius remained faithful to his 
severe rule of life. Compared to the heavenly and 
eternal joys, the pride and display of earth seemed 
vain and empty to him. The desire to join some 


ST. AL0YS1US OF GONZAOA. 57 

Order and live a religious life altogether became 
stronger and stronger, and finally he chose the 
Order of St. Ignatius, the Society of Jesus. 

However, when Aloysius revealed his plan to 
his father he became very angry. Everything that 
he could do to divert his son from his “ whim ” 
was tried. He even threatened him with physical 
punishment. But Aloysius remained steadfast, 
telling his father that he must prefer obedience to 
God to the wishes of his father. Then Aloysius 
went to his room and knelt down and prayed and 
scourged himself. His father overheard him, and 
his heart was so touched that he gave his consent. 
Aloysius joyfully signed the deed by which he 
resigned his portion of his paternal inheritance 
to his brother. 

In the year 1585 he entered the Jesuit novitiate 
in Rome. Here he worked unremittingly and per- 
severingly for greater perfection. It gave him 
especial pleasure to perform the services of the 
humblest servant, to beg in the streets of the 
Eternal City, and to nurse the sick in the hospi- 
tals. In 1590 an epidemic sickness broke out in 
Rome. Aloysius did not cease to entreat his supe- 
riors to let him devote himself to the care of the 
sick. In his self-sacrificing fervor he himself con- 
tracted a slow fever and died on the night of J une 


58 


ST. ALOYS] US OF GONZAGA. 


20th to 21st, 1591, at the age of twenty-three. 
His last words were: “ We go; we go with joy into 
heaven; into heaven; Jesns! Mary! ” 

St. Aloysius is to you, clear children, a model of 
piety and innocence. Honor this angelic saint. 
Particularly if you are students, fo.r St. .Aloysius 
is the patron and example of students. 



ST. FRANCIS DE SALES. 


In the family castle of the Count Sales in Savoy 
in 1567 there was great joy, for an heir had been 
born to the noble parents. Under the guidance 
of his pious mother the boy began to lead a holy 
life even in his childhood. This saintliness 
seemed to glorify his whole being; his face was 
angelic in its beauty, his form was graceful, and 
his manner most winning. His father directed 
the mind of his little son towards all that was 
beautiful, noble, and great; but with the tender- 
est love he united an unrelenting discipline tow- 
ards any faults in his son. 

One time Francis had taken a bright-colored 
silk girdle out of the jacket of a workingman 
who was employed in the castle. He acknowl- 
edged the act in all humility and threw himself on 
his knees before his father, begging his forgive- 
ness. Those who were looking on were moved to 
tears and interceded for the boy. His father, 

however, completed the boy’s punishment with 
59 



60 


ST. FRANCIS BE SALES. 


the switch. And Francis patiently received the 
whipping. 

When the boy was seven years old he was sent 
to the school at Annecy to be grounded in the 
beginning of learning. He soon excelled all 
his fellow pupils, not only in industry and attain- 
ments, but also in obedience, humility, and truth- 
fulness. Lie? Never. Better endure punish- 
ments than escape them by an untruth. The 
poor, whom his mother had taught him to love 
as his brethren, he never forgot. Often he denied 
himself food, so as to be able to give it to the 
needy and hungry. 

From Annecy, Francis was sent to Paris by his 
father and placed in the care of the Jesuits to be 
educated by them. Here, too, he distinguished 
himself hy his scholarship, without, however, less- 
ening the saintliness of his life. He wore a peni- 
tential garment next to his body, and before the 
image of the Blessed Virgin he took the vow of 
eternal virginity. Through the intercession of 
Mary he was freed, as if by a miracle, from the 
most terrible temptations during despondency and 
despair which haunted him day and night and at 
one time nearly brought him to bis death. Tn 
gratitude Francis vowed to recite the Rosary 
every day. 


ST. FRANCIS BE SALES. 


61 


After six years of study in Paris, Francis en- 
tered the University of Padua in Italy to take up 
law. He took the degree of doctor of law, both 
of civil and of canon law. He preserved his inno- 
cence amidst the temptations set for him by his 
fellow students, by living quietly and retiringly, 
by prayer and self-denial. A journey to Rome 
and a pilgrimage to Loretto closed his stay in 
Italy. At Loretto he consecrated his life once 
more to the Blessed Virgin and her Son. 

On returning to the castle of his parents, Fran- 
cis was told by his father that he intended that 
he should enter into the service of the State. But 
Francis begged so earnestly and so tenderly that 
his father was moved and consented, saying to his 
son: “ Be happy and rfiay others through you find 
happiness also/’ 

After his ordination Francis was appointed 
Archdeacon of the Cathedral at Geneva. Here, 
as well as at Chablais, where he was called by the 
Duke of Savoy, he labored for the salvation of 
souls. Thousands of the followers of Calvin were 
won from their heresies by him. This success he 
owed to his extraordinary eloquence, but even 
more to his wonderful gentleness, which appealed 
even to the hearts of his enemies and antagonists. 

After the death of the Bishop of Geneva, Fran- 


62 


ST. FRANCIS DE SALES. 


cis was elevated to the episcopal dignity by Pope 
Clement VIII. But even in this high office Fran- 
cis de Sales remained the simple, soul-loving 
priest, who had only love, and gentleness even for 
those who offended and traduced him. 

Once the saint was grossly insulted by a vulgar 
person. He remained calm and did not answer a 
word. When he was asked why he did not re- 
prove the man, as he could have done if he 
wished, he said: “ Long since '’’ promised our dear 
Lord never to speak a single word in anger; for, 
no matter how little one may say, words may es- 
cape us that fill our hearts with bitterness for the. 
day. But if we say nothing but a silent Hail 
Mary for patience the storm passes by and we are 
pleasant, and calm, and at peace afterwards,” 

The holy Bishop answered a friend who blamed 
him for being too mild and easy in his dealings 
with his enemies, by saying: “ If there were 
something higher and greater than meekness 
Jesus would have taught us; but He said, ‘ Learn 
of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart/ ” 

The patience and meekness of St. Francis are 
the more admirable because he was by nature 
quick-tempered and impatient. 

Through the grace of God he conquered his 
spirit, and he who conquers his spirit is greater 


ST. FRANCIS T)E SALES. 


63 


than he who takes a city. He gave his private as 
well as his episcopal income almost entirely to the 
poor. He even gave his bed-linen and the clothes 
he wore. As the childlike servant of Mary he 
founded the Order of the Visitation, with the help* 
of St. Jeanne Francis de Chantal. During his 
apostolic labors he wrote many devout books, the 
most renowned being Philothea. 

The holy Bishop and teacher died in Lyon, 
while travelling, on December 28, 1622, in the 
fifty-fifth year of his age. 

“Ho anger ” is the lesson which St. Francis de 
Sales teaches us, dear children. Those who do not 
get angry, do not quarrel and fight, but are 
quiet and silent, give in and bear with others. 
They are liked by all here in this world and will 
have a peaceful and pleasant life, as Our Lord 
promised — “ Blessed are the meek, for they shall 
possess the land.” 

Anger and wrath include the will to do evil and 
lead to acts of violence. Man is no longer his 
own master if he has given way to rage and anger 
in his heart. The Apostle tells us that he who 
hates his brother is a murderer. Our Lord has 
shown us the whole wickedness of the curses and 
imprecations, into which it is so easy to break 
when angry. He says: “But I say to you that 


64 


ST. FRANCIS BE SALES. 


whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in 
danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say 
to his brother, Baca, shall be in danger of the 
council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, 
Shall be in danger of hell fire.” In this way Jesus 
shows us how deserving of punishment are the 
sins against Christian charity. 



BLESSED HERMANN JOSEPH 


























































' 









































ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL. 

St. Jane de Chantal was born in the year 
1572 in Dijon in France. Her parents were 
wealthy and belonged to the nobility. Her father, 
Benignus de Fremiot, was the chief magistrate of 
the court of justice of Burgundy, and he was 
known and esteemed as a pious and modest man. 
Her mother was beloved as a benefactress of the 
poor. The new-born daughter was christened 
Jane, or rather Jeanne, which is more nearly 
translated Joan or Johanna, in honor of St. John 
the Almoner, because the Baptism took place on 
his day. Later, at Confirmation, Jane was given 
the name Frances also. When Jane was only 
eighteen months old her mother died. After that 
her training was received from her father, who 
gave her the tenderest care and imbued her also 
with a certain masculine seriousness and earnest- 
ness that enabled her in later life to do so much 
and such great and hard things for God, as wife, 
as widow, and as nun. 


65 



66 ST. JANE FRANCES BE CHANTAL. 


Even as a child of five, J ane was filled with the 
conviction of the truth of the Catholic religion. 
She heard a nobleman who was a heretic talking 
with her father and disputing the real presence of 
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She said to the 
nobleman: “ Sir, you must believe that Jesus is 
present in the Blessed Sacrament, for He has told 
us so Himself. If you do not believe so, you 
stamp the Saviour as a liar.” The nobleman was 
astonished at these words and asked a number of 
questions. She answered so pointedly and well 
that those present wondered at her knowledge of 
the truths of the faith. 

Jane was also distinguished by a deep love for 
the poor. If she met a beggar, tears came into her 
eyes, for she thought of the Saviour who was poor, 
too, and had not even a stone on which to rest 
His head. 

Because she lost her mother so early, Jane 
commended herself to the care of the Mother of 
the Lord and called herself a “ child of Mary.” 
Whatever she did, in every trouble and trial, she 
thereafter went to the Blessed Virgin and hum- 
bly asked her help and guidance. 

When she was fifteen years old Jane accompa- 
nied her married sister on a visit to her home. 
In the neighborhood of her sister’s estates the 


ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL. 67 


heretics had given vent to their iconoclastic frenzy 
and the Catholic churches were defaced, the im- 
ages, crucifixes, and relics destroyed. This grieved 
Jane so much that she covered her face with a 
veil, that the people might not see her tears and 
think she wept for other reasons. Her sister gave 
her a companion and instructress, who tried to 
win Jane from her pious ways to more worldly 
customs. But the Blessed Virgin protected her 
child, and after a time the companion was dis- 
missed as unworthy of caring for Jane. 

After staying with her sister for five years, Jane 
was called home by her father. She was now 
twenty years old, and in compliance with her 
father’s wishes she married a French nobleman, 
Baron de Chantal. In her husband’s castle Jane 
was the model wife and mistress of the home. 
She raised her children with the fervor and ear- 
nestness of a saint. She avoided costly clothing 
and useless visiting. She encouraged her servants 
to piety and faithful service. To the poor she 
gave alms every day; sometimes indeed the same 
beggars were helped two or three times a day. 
“ For,” she said, “ am I not a daily beggar myself 
at the gates of the divine mercy? I would not 
that my own prayer be refused if I come a second 
or a third time.” 


68 ST. JANE FRANCES BE CHANTAL. 


After living happily with him for eight years, 
her good husband was killed in a hunting acci- 
dent. Resigned to the will of God, J ane patiently 
submitted to this heavy trial, and made up her 
mind to devote herself entirely to the service of 
God for the rest of her life. She gave up all dis- 
play, lived on simple food and used her costly 
clothes for pious purposes. Prayer, the reading 
of devout hooks, and work with her hands filled 
the hours which she could spare from the training 
of her children. She took the vow of chastity and 
became a real mother to the poor and to those in 
trouble. Her particular delight was to nurse 
those sick of repulsive diseases. 

On the advice of her spiritual director, St. 
Francis de Sales, she decided to renounce the 
world entirely, to leave her dear father and her 
beloved children for the love of God, and to enter 
the Order of the Visitation, which she founded with 
the help of St. Francis. The special object of this 
Order was to be the furtherance of meekness, 
humility, obedience, and the denial of the senses. 
Here Jane became the inspiring example of her 
spiritual daughters. 

But the saint had to endure many more trials in 
her life: the death of St. Francis, deaths in her 
family, and struggles with herself. But she took 


ST. JANE FRANCES EE C1I ANTAL. 69 


all humbly from the hand of God. She denied 
her judgment, her will, her desires in order to 
become more like Christ. In the seventieth year 
of 'her life, on December 13, 1641, death united 
her with her divine Master. 

“ Every one that exalteth himself, shall be 
humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be 
exalted.” St. Jane Frances de Chantal was ex- 
alted, because she was a model of humility. Fol- 
low her example, dear children, that you, too, may 
earn her reward. Do not put yourself ahead of 
others, but give to others the first place. Be not 
dissatisfied with your lot, hut recognize that God 
has given }'Ou more graces than you deserve. Be 
not forward, hold, overfond of praise, quarrel- 
some, envious. Be generous and kind in your 
opinions and do not condemn anybody, hut be the 
more strict with yourselves. 

Humility is among the greatest virtues. In- 
deed, it might be said that humility is the best of 
all virtue. If a virtuous person is not humble, it 
may he that he is only virtuous because of self- 
love and ambition; his virtue is not pure gold, hut 
only gilded brass. “ He who tries to acquire vir- 
tues and has no humility, is like one carrying sand 
against the wind,” says St. Gregory the Great. 
The deeper the foundation of a house is laid, the 


70 ST. JANE FRANCES BE CIIANTAL. 


firmer the building will stand. And in the same 
way virtues stand safest upon the deepest humil- 
ity. “ Humility has always been the foundation 
of a holy life,” says St. Cyprian, “ and even in 
heaven pride could not hold its own.” 

Christ chose to he horn in a stable in poverty 
and lowliness; may you, too, love lowliness and 
humility. 



ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE. 

St. Benedict Joseph Labile was born in 
Amettes in France in the year 1748, and was the 
son of a well-to-do merchant. The child’s par- 
ents were very pious and began early to train him 
in the fear of God and the love of the Blessed 
Virgin. His young heart took up their teaching 
like a flower-bed does the dew of heaven, and 
during his whole life Benedict Joseph remained 
a true follower of Christ and a fervent servant of 
Mary. 

He was sent to school when he was only five 
j^ears old. Here his diligence, patience, modesty, 
and humility won the admiration of his teachers. 
But the most striking thing about the boy was his 
earnestness. He spoke little, and when he had 
to speak he did so as briefly as possible, using but 
few words, but these were so sensible and to the 
point that a clever man could not have spoken 
better. Benedie J Joseph showed no' liking for the 
rough play so common with boys. When the 
71 



72 


ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH I ABBE. 


other hoys were screaming and teasing he went 
quietly home. At home he was satisfied with the 
simplest food, leaving the delicacies rather for 
the servants and for the sick. Even the soft 
little bed his mother gave him to sleep in he did 
not use, preferring to sleep on the hard floor. It 
was never necessary to urge him to go to church, 
and to serve at Mass or vespers was his special 
delight. When he was only five years old he went 
to confession, and at twelve he received the first 
holy communion with great fervor and was also 
confirmed. 

His parents decided to let their gifted and ear- 
nest son study for a profession. F or this purpose 
he was sent to his uncle, who was a priest. But 
there was no profession which appealed to the 
young man. He preferred the reading of devout 
books to any worldly studies, and wonderful 
strength seemed to come to him from these read- 
ings. Thinking over and over on the choice of a 
vocation, he decided to serve God as a Trappist. 
He told his desire to his uncle, the priest, but the 
uncle thought that Benedict was too young to 
know his mind, being only sixteen years old. It 
was only after the death of this uncle that Bene- 
dict was permitted to follow the desire of his 
heart and enter the Trappist monastery. But his 


ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE. 


73 


health was so delicate that he could not long re- 
main under the severe rule of the Trappists. 

But the pious youth was not to be discouraged. 
“ If I cannot serve God in the monastery,” he 
thought, “ I will serve Him in the world.” After 
he had prayed humbly for guidance and had con- 
sulted with his confessor, he entered upon a new 
and, since the days of St. Alexius the Roman, 
unheard-of manner of living. He left his father 
and mother and everything dear to him in this 
world, to journey as a poor pilgrim from one 
shrine of grace to another. He made all his pil- 
grimages on foot, in old clothes which he only 
changed when they were no more to be worn. He 
took no food with him, but depended altogether 
upon Providence. He usually slept on the bare 
earth or on the step of a church. He often took 
the most lonesome and hardest roads from one 
place to another, so as to have more time for 
prayer and meditation. Whereyer he could he 
did works of mercy both temporal and spiritual. 
If kindly people asked him to eat with them, he 
humbly refused, taking only what was left over 
and cast aside by others. Ridicule and derision 
and insults he accepted cheerfully. 

Every year he journeyed to Loretto to venerate 
the Mother of God. He paused at the grave of 


74 


ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH LA BEE. 


St. Romualdus at Fabriano in Italy, at that of St. 
Nicholas at Bari, at all the holy places in Rome, 
at the grave of St. Januarius in Naples and at 
that of St. Francis at Assisi. He also visited 
Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland and all the 
famous shrines in Germany and France. And 
everywhere he left the example of the deepest 
piety and the most complete self-denial. He vis- 
ited the churches in which the Blessed Sacrament 
was exposed, and the people came to call him 
“ the beggar of the Forty Hours’ Devotion.” 

In 1783 the saint was again in Rome. Half sick 
and suffering, he dragged himself to his beloved 
Church of Maria dei Monti. He knelt down in 
his accustomed place and remained in prayer be- 
fore the Blessed Sacrament until evening. When 
he arose to leave the church he fell down fainting 
and was carried into a neighboring house. Here 
he died after receiving the last sacraments, while 
the church bells were ringing the Angelus and 
the people were praying the prayer he loved so 
much. 

To St. Benedict Joseph Labre is due much of 
the increase of devotion in the keeping of the 
forty hours’ devotion. The forty hours’ prayer, 
but without exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 
was begun in Milan by a Capuchin monk whose 


ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH LABILE. 


75 


name was Fr. Joseph, in the year 1556, in memory 
of the forty hours which Our Lord passed in the 
tomb. In 1560 it was sanctioned by Pope Pius IV. 
Then one of the brotherhoods in Rome instituted 
a forty hours’ prayer in honor of the forty days of 
fasting of Christ. But even now the Blessed 
Sacrament was not exposed. It was not until the 
end of the eleventh century that the devotion was 
accompanied by the exposition of the Blessed 
Sacrament. Follow the example of St. Benedict 
Joseph Labre and pray before the Blessed Sacra- 
ment whenever you can, dear children, and thus 
offer reparation to the dear Heart of Jesus which 
is daily insulted by blasphemies and impiety. 



ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. 

In Padua, in a beautiful church with six cupo- 
las, is' the grave of St. Anthony. His cradle was 
in Lisbon in Portugal. There he was born in 
1195, the child of the noble family of the Bugli- 
one, and his baptismal name was Fernandez, or 
Ferdinand. 

The child was trained to piety by his God-fear- 
ing parents. His mother taught him especially to 
love the Blessed Virgin. And for this reason St. 
Anthony was all his life a devoted servant of 
Mary. The child was bright and easy to teach, 
and when he was ten years old he was sent to the 
cathedral school in his native city. Here excel- 
lent masters taught him the beginnings of knowl- 
edge in matters worldly as well as spiritual. As 
a flower-bud opens to the spring sunshine, so the 
little Anthony opened his mind and heart to his 
teachers. And soon he decided to leave the world 
and its ambitions and seek the way of God. 

When he was only fifteen years old he entered 
76 



ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. 


77 


the monastery of the Augustinians, just outside of 
the city of Lisbon. Here, as a novice, he was a 
model for the oldest. Fearing that the visits of 
his friends and relatives might prove too great a 
distraction to him when he was near Lisbon, he 
asked his superiors to send him to Coimbra, which 
was about one hundred miles away. Here 
Anthony served God for eight years. 

Then it happened that the bodies of the five 
martyred Franciscans who were put to death in 
Morocco in the beginning of the year 1220 were 
brought to Coimbra. After that St. Anthony 
longed for nothing more ardently than to he per- 
mitted to win for himself the crown of a martyr. 
With the permission of his superiors he joined the 
Franciscans and took the name Anthony in honor 
of St. Anthony the Hermit. Then he asked to he 
sent to the Mahommedans in Africa. But the 
ways of man are not the ways of God, and the 
saint was intended for other things. He was com- 
pelled to return home on account of sickness, and 
on the way back his vessel was driven ashore at 
Sicily by a storm. Here St. Anthony found a ref- 
uge in a Franciscan convent, where he rested until 
his health was restored. Here he learned that 
St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Order of 
the Franciscans, had sent for all superiors to 


78 


ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. 


come to Assisi for a conference. At this St. 
Anthony was delighted, thinking that now he 
would have a chance to see the great man of God, 
and he, too, went to Assisi. 

Tired and worn out, he arrived at Assisi, and, 
full of humbleness and modesty, he kept quiet and 
in the background. So it happened that no one 
noticed the Portuguese stranger. Only the 
Brother Guardian marked him and, taking pity 
on him, sent him to an obscure convent. Here 
the saint lived for nine months, doing the most 
menial work and praying patiently. 

Then the Bishop asked Anthony to preach at 
Forli, and Anthony obeyed. The sermon was on 
the mysteries of God, and it was full of inspira- 
tion and the deepest knowledge, so that all were 
carried away by its eloquence and confessed that 
they had never heard such preaching. St. Fran - 
cis of Assisi heard of this, and, as the Superior- 
General of the Franciscans, ordered that Anthony 
should preach and teach in the future. 

So the saint went from city to city, from village 
to village, preaching the word of God. With 
supernatural power he seemed to compel sinners 
to penance. Often there were as many as thirty 
thousand people to hear him. And the dear saint 
worked many miracles also. Once he was preach- 


ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. 


79 


ing at Rimini, but his words fell on heedless cars 
and hard hearts. Then he left the city and went 
down to the shore of the sea. “ Hear me, ye 
fishes,” he cried out, “ for the heretics in this city 
will not hear me.” And behold the fishes large 
and small came up and listened and did not go 
back to the sea until the saint had blessed them. 
And then the people of the city begged him to 
come back and to preach to them the word of God. 

St. Anthony remained only a year in Padua, 
but thousands were converted here, too. When 
he preached, the shops and places of business 
were closed and people came in crowds. It was 
in Padua, too, where a beautiful and radiant 
Babe appeared to him, put His little arms around 
his neck and was in turn clasped in the arms of 
the saint. It was the Infant Jesus who had come 
to call the faithful servant to heaven. Peacefully 
and joyously, the saint followed the call on June 
13, 1231, in the thirty-sixth year of his age. 

Pray to St. Anthony, the great miracle worker, 
dear children, so that he will help you, too, to find 
the way to heaven. The way is narrow and the 
entrance is small, but heaven is worth all possible 
trials. 



ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. 

St. Charles Borromeo, cardinal, archbishop, 
and confessor, belonged to the noble family of 
the Borromeo and was horn at Castle Arona in 
Milan in the year 1538. Even in his earliest 
childhood he showed a liking for the religious 
life. He would imitate the ceremonies he saw in 
church by making little altars for himself and 
singing before them. And his good parents 
looked with favor upon these childish practices, 
for they were willing that he should become a 
priest. 

When he had grown to he old enough to 
attend the academy at Pavia he devoted himself 
to both secular and ecclesiastical studies in the 
most thorough and diligent manner. And the 
while he was an example for his fellow students. 
He kept the purity of his life unspotted. He 
never was heard to speak a lewd w r ord. If any 
one else spoke of such subjects he left at once. 
And he avoided the companionship of lazy, dis- 
80 



SI. ROSE OF LIMA 











































ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. 81 

sipated, and wicked students. His time was given 
to study and prayer. 

His uncle on his mother’s side belonged to the 
princely family of the Medici. He saw and valued 
the learning and piety of his nephew, and when 
this uncle later became Pope Pius IY. he ap- 
pointed Charles a cardinal and a year later Arch- 
bishop of Milan. 

Charles did not disappoint the hopes his uncle, 
the Pope, had of him. He fulfilled the duties of 
his office with unfailing ardor. He was the first 
to promulgate the decrees of the Council of Trent 
in his province and to try to regulate ecclesi- 
astical affairs according to them. He began at his 
own court and introduced the most rigid disci- 
pline. The revenues of his province he applied 
most conscientiously and was untiring in the cor- 
rection of abuses. He founded convents and built 
churches and started schools for boys who were 
to be educated for the priesthood. He preached 
nearly every Sunday and holy day in the cathe- 
dral at Milan. He spent three months of the year 
travelling around in his diocese, even visiting the 
parishes away up in the Alps. And everywhere 
he went he roused the people to better lives and 
penitence. 

In his holy work the Archbishop was not with- 


82 


ST CHARLES BORROMEO. 


out difficulties and persecutions. His enemies 
even attempted to take his life. But he bore 
everything with patience and was not to he 
turned from his way of doing. His holy life 
shows that only his eagerness to serve God and 
to help his fellow men were the reasons of his 
actions. He lived so simply that he was called the 
most self-denying man of his time. He ate little 
hut bread and water, wore rough clothing, and 
gave his episcopal income and the income from 
his inherited estates to charitable works. He 
loved to meditate on the sufferings of Christ, and 
it was his custom to say: “ Blessed are they who 
constantly contemplate the sufferings of Jesus. I 
believe it is impossible for such a one to sin.” 

His great charity was shown especially during 
the famine which desolated Milan in the year 
1570 and in the terrible plague which followed the 
famine. He not only gave all he had, hut begged 
from door to door himself for the starving. Dur-‘ 
ing the plague he refused to leave the city, saying 
to those who urged him to go: “ Save your own 
lives; I may not leave my flock.” He sold the 
furnishings and costly household belongings of 
his episcopal palace for the benefit of the sick, and 
had garments and bedclothes made out of the 
upholstering and draperies. He visited the 


ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. 


83 


plague-stricken and gave them the last sacra- 
ments. To help bring about an end of the epi- 
demic he ordered public prayers and penitential 
processions. He himself walked barefoot with a 
rope around his neck and a crucifix held aloft in 
these processions. 

In spite of his heroic devotion to the service of 
God, he still looked upon himself as a great sin- 
ner and an unworthy servant. He made two re- 
treats every year to prepare himself for a happy 
death. He felt death approaching when he was 
on a pilgrimage. He made a general confession 
and returned to Milan. Here he received the last 
sacraments and, because he wished to die as a 
penitent, he was laid upon a haircloth cover upon 
which blessed ashes were strewn. With his eyes 
fixed upon a picture of the Saviour the saint gave 
up his soul in the forty-sixth year of his earthly 
life, on the 4th of November, 1584. 

Where, dear children, did the holy Archbishop 
get the strength * for his great and unceasing 
labors? Listen: it was by his prayers. The boy 
kneeling before his little altar, the student sur- 
rounded by the temptations of youth at the 
academy, still praying and studying, and the 
man striving and working and praying. All 
his trials, and needs were carried to God in 


84 


ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. 


prayer, and he received in return strength and 
grace. To the Blessed Virgin, too, he had a 
tender devotion. He never heard the Angelus 
without kneeling down. He recited the Ro- 
sary every day and gave an hour to meditations 
and prayer every evening. To pray fervently 
and persistently, never omitting onr daily pray- 
ers, that is the lesson, dear children, which 
this great saint teaches ns. There is no better 
way to acquire graces and to conquer temptations 
and bad habits than prayer, especially the prayer 
that rises from a contrite and humble heart. 
“ Prayer,” as writes St. Ephraim, “ subdues pride, 
puts out anger, destroys envy, and leads to piety. 
Prayer blesses man with strength and the house- 
hold with prosperity. Prayer is the protection of 
the virgin, the weapon of the traveller, the guard 
of the sleeping, the hope of the waking, the fruit- 
fulness of the field, the safety of the seafaring. 
Prayer defends the condemned, frees the im- 
prisoned, and consoles the sorrowful. Prayer is 
the crown of parents, and brings peace to the de- 
parted. Prayer is the root and source of infinite 
treasures and is greater than the power of kings.” 

As food and drink are necessary to the material 
life, so prayer is necessary to the spiritual life. 
Therefore, too, the Saviour has so distinctly com- 


ST. CHARLES BORROMEO. 


85 


manded us to pray. He has told us that we must 
pray without ceasing, and that if we ask we shall 
receive. More than that, He has Himself given 
us the example of prayer to the Father who is 
in heaven. 



ST. LOUIS. 

St. Louis was the son of Louis VIII., king of 
France. He was born in the year 1215 at Poissy, 
and all his life Louis had a special liking for 
Poissy because he received Baptism there. He 
often signed important documents “ Louis, of 
Poissy.” See, my dear children, how great was 
the sainPs regard for the holy Sacrament of Bap- 
tism which made him a member of the Church of 
God! 

The little prince had the good fortune to have 
a most excellent mother. “ Guard against sin! ” 
was the constant warning of Queen Blanche to 
the child who was to be the future king of France. 
Often she would say to him: “ I know that I love 
you, my dear son, with the greatest tenderness 
that a mother can have; yet I would rather see 
you dead than guilty of mortal sin.” 

Such teachings made a deep impression on the 
prince, and he himself said later in life that he 
never forgot the instructions of his mother, but 
86 



ST. LOUIS. 


87 


thought of them every day. Oh, that all children 
would take their mothers' teachings to heart! 

When he was twelve years old, Louis lost his 
father, and he himself ascended the throne under 
the regency of his mother. Mother and son were 
a beautiful example of love for each other. 
Blanche was a wise queen and Louis a dutiful and 
loving son. And such he remained even after he 
assumed sovereignty as Louis IX., when he was 
twenty years old. 

He fulfilled his duties as ruler most conscien- 
tiously. He honored the Catholic Church as a 
most faithful son. In a short time he won the 
love of the whole country and was praised for his 
justice, his power, and his kindness. He had no 
love for display and costly feasts. Simplicity 
emanated from his whole being. In the brilliant 
court of France he led as simple a life as if he 
were a member of a religious Order. Two days in 
the week he abstained from meat and at certain 
times he wore a hairshirt. He attended Mass 
every day and read many devout books. He vis- 
ited the hospitals and often nursed the sick, even 
the lepers, with his own hands. 

In the twentieth year of his reign Louis became 
dangerously ill. Then he vowed to God that he 
would go upon a crusade to free the Holy Land 


88 


ST. LOUIS. 


from the yoke of the infidels if He permitted him 
to recover. God heard his prayer, and the saintly 
king got well. 

To fulfil his vow, Louis sailed for Africa with 
a large army in 1249. In the very first battle the 
brave king put the Saracens to flight. But then a 
plague of sickness broke out among his soldiers 
and, though Louis did the best he could, he was 
taken prisoner by the sultan. His courage, his 
calmness, and his faith in God impressed even the 
Saracens, who said of him that he bore himself 
as if he were their ruler and not their prisoner. 
But he had to pay a great sum of money — a 
million pieces of gold — as ransom for himself 
and his soldiers. He was five years in the East 
doing acts of charity and bringing blessing wher- 
ever he went. He ransomed countless Christians 
who had been made prisoners and then slaves; 
he converted many infidels and rebuilt Christian 
places and towns. At last the news of the death 
of his mother caused him to go back to France. 

In France he was received with the greatest 
joy. How he tried to improve his own country 
by wise laws. To further holy religion, upon 
which depends the happiness of a country, he 
built many churches and convents. And thus fif- 
teen years more passed. 


ST. LOUIS. 


89 


But while France was thus prospering, the con- 
dition of the Christians in the East was con- 
stantly becoming more unhappy. Terrible cruel- 
ties were inflicted on them. And thinking of 
these things, Louis was filled with a longing to 
try a second crusade. So he started out once more 
in the year 1270. 

The nobles of his country joined him, full of 
enthusiasm. But alas! during the siege of Tunis, 
on the African coast, the plague broke out once 
more in the king’s camp. This time he himself 
took it. Finding that he was dying, he asked to 
he laid on ashes, and here, after receiving the last 
sacraments, he died. His eyes turned heaven- 
ward, the king went in to the King of kings. 
This was August 25th, 1270. 

On his deathbed the holy king exhorted his son 
to he faithful to his duties and said to him: “ My 
dear son, the first thing that I commend to you 
is that you love God above all things. Live only 
for Him and he ready to endure sufferings, and 
trials, rather than to commit a mortal sin.” 

Dear children, it was the teaching of St. Louis’ 
mother, the good Queen Blanche, repeated to his 
son. Do you repeat it often in your hearts, espe- 
cially when you are tempted, remembering that 
sin is the greatest of all evils. 



ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORL 

St. Alphonsus belonged to the old and noble 
family of the Liguori. He was born in 1696 in 
Naples. Tanght with care and tenderness by a 
pious mother, he showed even from his infancy 
an angelic patience, gentleness, and piety. Once 
when he won a small piece of money in a childish 
game, his playmates said to him, after the manner 
of children, “ You cheated.” But it was not true. 
However, Alphonsus laid down the coin and said, 
“ What! do you think that one could offend the 
majesty of God for the sake of such a little piece 
of money ? 99 Then the boy got up and went away. 
In the evening his playmates found him praying 
before a picture of Mary which he had fastened 
to a tree. 

He venerated the Blessed Virgin every day, 
as he was taught to do by his mother, and 
to this devotion he remained faithful as long 
as he lived, and as all his after life showed. He 

called Mary his dear Mother, and greeted her 
90 



ST. ALPHONSUS L1GU0RI. 


91 


with a Hail Mary every time the clock struck the 
hour. 

When he had grown to young manhood, St. 
Alphonsus took the greatest delight in visiting 
and nursing the sick in the hospitals and in pray- 
ing before the Blessed Sacrament in the churches. 
This devotion, too, he kept up all through life. 
And no one has written more eloquently and beau- 
tifully about the Blessed Sacrament than has St. 
Alphonsus. 

He studied civil law and was so successful that he 
was made a doctor of law when he was only seven- 
teen years old. After attending court for three 
years more as a student, he began the public prac- 
tice of his profession. Because of his insight and 
his eloquence he soon won the esteem of his fellow 
citizens. But to err is human; one day he over- 
looked an important matter in a trial. His op- 
ponent called his attention to his mistake. Al- 
phonsus acknowledged his mistake and then left 
the court-room, saying, “ How I understand you, 
deceitful world.” After this he studied theology. 

After he was ordained to the priesthood he 
worked as a priest with boundless zeal in Naples.' 
He preached to the poor in the market-places in 
the evenings and converted many great sinners. 
He also joined a missionary society, whose object 


92 


ST. ALPHONSUS LIGU0R1. 


was to preach in the neighborhood of Naples and 
to visit the peasants, urge them to receive the sac- 
raments, and lead them to a faithful life. 

Convinced of the exalted usefulness of the mis- 
sions, Alphonsus founded an Order that was to be 
especially devoted to the service of the poorest 
and most neglected classes. It was called the 
Congregation of the Holy Redeemer, or the Order 
of the Redemptorists. For a long time, thirty 
years, Alphonsus was the superior of this Order. 
There was no town in the two Sicilys in which he 
had not preached, moved the hearts of sinners to 
penance, and encouraged them to receive holy 
communion often. And the Blessed Virgin cast 
a wonderful charm about the person of her serv- 
ant when he preached the message of salvation 
to men. 

High offices were offered to Alphonsus in the 
Church, and in his humility he declined them all. 
But God wished to give the Church a holy bishop 
once more, and, in obedience to Pope Clement 
XIII., Alphonsus was compelled to accept the see 
of St. Agatha. In 1762 he went to his episcopal 
city. The word of his holiness went before him, 
and when he came the people welcomed him Joy- 
fully. He administered the duties of his office as 
Bishop with unusual zeal. Severe with himself. 


ST. ALPHONSUS LI GUO IU. 


93 


he yet showed to others a touching gentleness. 
To the poor he gave nearly everything that he 
possessed. To his priests and the religious he was 
particularly kind. He introduced into his diocese 
everywhere the daily visitations to the Blessed 
Sacrament and other pious devotions. 

In the last seventeen years of his life, Alphon- 
sus suffered much from a bodily weakness. His 
head was twisted and bent forward by an incura- 
ble disease. The holy Bishop endured this afflic- 
tion with heavenly patience, and worked on so 
industriously that he did not even rest when Pius 
VI. relieved him of the burden of his office, al- 
though he was then eighty years old. 

Instead, he returned to his cell in the monas- 
tery and wrote those wonderful books in which he 
shows his love for the Blessed Sacrament and the 
holy Mother of God. It was his joy to kneel for 
hours before the tabernacle. At such times a 
heavenly light seemed to illuminate his face. 

The saint lived to be nearly ninety-one years 
old, and died a blessed death after' receiving holy 
communion with indescribable fervor. 

Dear children, one of the best aids in leading 
a holy life is the love of the Blessed Sacrament. 
He who visits the Holy of holies gathers count- 
less graces. 



ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. 

The Castle of Xavier is a few miles away from 
the city of Pomplona in Spain. There St. Fran- 
cis was born in the year 1506. For this reason he 
has the surname Xavier. 

Great talents and personal beauty distinguished 
the youth. When he was eighteen years old he was 
sent to Paris to study, where he made such prog- 
ress that he was soon made a doctor of philosophy 
and was chosen above others to teach philosophy. 
The great admiration which he won in Paris was 
the reason why he did not remain entirely free 
from ambition for distinctions and honors. 

Then it happened that Ignatius of Loyola, a 
countryman of Francis’, also came to Paris to 
study. He learned to know Francis, and as Igna- 
tius understood very well that ambition has 
brought many a one to the fall from grace, he 
tried to show his friend how vain is all earthly 
glory, and to win him for heavenly things. Again 
and again he repeated to Francis the words of the 
94 



ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. 


95 


Saviour: “ For what shall it profit a man if he 
gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his 
own soul?” And the word of God at last conquered 
Francis. He renounced his ambitions and gave 
himself up entirely to good works. Then he 
joined St. Ignatius in the Society which he and 
five companions formed in the year 1534, by tak- 
ing the vow in the church in Montmartre to 
devote their lives to the conversion of heretics 
and unbelievers, and to work for the salvation of 
men. This was the foundation of the Society of 
Jesus. And now Francis Xavier had no desire 
save the humility of the cross and the wish to give 
glory to God. “ Give me souls, 0 Lord! ” was 
ever his prayer. 

Until the new Order was sanctioned by the Holy 
Father, Francis, to practice self-denial, nursed the 
sick in Venice. After two months he was or- 
dained and read his first holy Mass with tears of 
joy in his eyes. 

After the Order received the approbation of 
Pope Paul II., Francis was delighted to be sent 
to India as a missionary. He left Europe in the 
year 1541, taking with him only his breviary, his 
crucifix, and a few devout books. For thirteen 
months the ship floated on the immense waste of 
water through which it had to pass. This time 


96 


ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. 


was used by St. Francis to instruct and convert 
the sailors of the ship. At last they reached Goa, 
then the main center of the Portuguese colonies 
in India. The inhabitants of Goa, though most of 
them were baptized and ought to have been Chris- 
tians, had lost their faith and lived like heathens. 
In a wonderfully short time Francis had won 
them back to the way of salvation. 

After that he began his great missionary travels'. 
For ten years he went from land to land, suffering 
the greatest hardships and tribulations. He crossed 
mountains and wore his feet bloody on hot and 
rocky deserts. A little rice cooked in water and 
some salt fish were his usual food. He baptized 
almost a million people with his own hands. 
Often the number of converts was so great, that 
his hand was lamed from baptizing and he could 
not raise it any more. God blessed his mission- 
ary work with many miracles, and to him belongs, 
outside of the Apostle St. Paul, the most glory 
for spreading the Gospel among the peoples of 
the earth. He has been called the Apostle of 
India and Japan. 

The saint went from India to Japan in 1549. 
Here he spent two years and four months preach- 
ing to the Japanese and saving thousands of souls. 

After this the ardor for souls which filled the 









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ST. ALOYSI US GONZAGA 






















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ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. 


97 


saint moved him to go to the immense Chinese 
Empire, where millions and millions of people 
have not heard of the Saviour even to this day. 
But his work was at an end. On the journey to 
China he fell sick of fever and died on an island 
in a miserable hut, forsaken by companions, with- 
out the help of a physician or a nurse, racked by 
pains and aches. Nevertheless, he remained 
cheerful and patient. His eyes fixed upon a cruci- 
fix, he went to his eternal home with the words: 
“ In Thee, 0 Lord, I have hoped, and I shall not 
be forsaken in all eternity.” This was on Decem- 
ber 2, 1552. 

The wonderful example of St. Francis Xavier 
moved other Catholic priests to become mission- 
aries and preach the Gospel to the heathen, in 
obedience to the command of Our Lord. Then 
they saw with their own eyes how thousands of 
children who are sickly or burdensome to their 
parents are exposed by the roadside in China, 
where they are eaten by dogs or pigs. This is a 
terrible thought, but even more terrible is it to 
think that all these innocent children must be left 
to die without the Sacrament of Baptism. 

A French missionary, Charles August de 
Forbin-Janson, was so moved that when he re- 
turned to France and was made Bishop he tried 


98 


ST. FRANCIS XAVIER . 


to think of a way to save these heathen children. 
God inspired him, and he conceived the idea of 
the Confraternity of the Child Jesus. The mem- 
bers of this Confraternity are nearly all children. 
They pray every day for the little pagan children, 
and pay a few cents every month into the funds 
of the Confraternity. Many drops make a river, 
and many pennies a great sum of money. For 
this sum of money Chinese babies are bought from 
their parents, baptized, and raised in Catholic or- 
phan asylums. 

Do you belong to the Confraternity of the Child 
Jesus, my dear little reader? If not, ask your 
parents to let you join. They will surely give 
you a few pennies for your monthly contribution. 
Perhaps you have even now spending money, 
which you use only for candies and useless trifles. 
Offer up these pennies instead for the saving of 
the helpless heathen babies. Do it for the love of 
the Child Jesus. What you do for an abandoned 
child in a far-away country, Christ will look upon 
as though you had done it for Him. 

St. Francis Xavier had no hesitation about 
making a sacrifice of money to the Lord. A 
heathen king once offered him much gold and 
silver as a present. The holy man said: “ I 
did not come to gather treasures or riches, but to 


ST, FRANCIS XAVIER. 


99 


bring to all the one great treasure of the knowl- 
edge of the true God.” This answer so pleased 
the king that he granted the saint’s prayer to he 
permitted to preach the Gospel in that country. 
And for these sacrifices and labors the Saviour 
rewarded the saint by a surprising heavenly con- 
solation, so that the saint was wont to say: “ The 
best and deepest joy is that which God gives to 
those who educate the untaught for Him. And to 
win this joy, no danger should daunt.” 



ST. OTTILIA. 

St. Ottilia, or Odilia, was the daughter of 
Adalrich, Duke of Alsace, and of his pious wife, 
Bereswinda. She was horn in the year 662, and 
was blind at birth. Her father, though he was a 
Christian, was rough and wild, as w^as natural in 
those barbarian days, and thought it a disgrace to 
have a blind child. Then he was disappointed at 
having a daughter when he wanted a son. For 
these reasons he tried to have the child killed. 
But its mother secretly gave it into the care of 
a faithful maid servant, and after it was old 
enough had it brought to the Convent of Palma, 
the abbess of which was a relative of hers. 

Here the blind Ottilia found loving care, and 
grew up a pious, obedient child. Nevertheless, 
she had not been baptized, probably because in 
getting her away quietly from her father’s house 
there had been no good chance and afterwards it 
was forgotten. 

So she grew to he twelve years old and was still 
100 



ST. OTTILIA. 


101 


unbaptized. This was revealed to St. Erhard, 
Bishop of Regensburg, in a dream. The saint 
went at once to the convent and baptized Ottilia 
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost. And behold! as soon as the light of faith 
came into Ottilia's young soul the blindness left 
her physical eyes. Ottilia could see. Full of grati- 
tude to God, she vowed her life to His services. 
The word of this miracle spread over the land, 
and reached the duke's castle also. But the duke 
was not moved. He only hardened his heart the 
more. For this reason Ottilia remained in her 
convent home working patiently and fervently to 
become more holy. She was particularly kind to 
the poor, giving them the gifts her mother se- 
cretly sent her. That her father did not seem to 
love her grieved the gentle Ottilia. “ Oh," she 
often thought, “ if I could only win him to think 
well of me! " She told the desire of her heart to 
one of her brothers, of whom her father was par- 
ticularly fond. His name was Hugo, and he went 
to his father to plead for his outcast sister. But 
he could not soften his father. Then Hugo wrote 
to the sister that she should come herself, and 
perhaps she could succeed. This seemed to be a 
good way to Ottilia, and she started out for the 
home which was denied to her, the daughter of 


102 


ST. OTTILIA. 


the duke, while the children of his poorest laborer 
found shelter in it. 

At the foot of the hill on which the castle 
stood Ottilia knelt down and prayed to God for 
help and guidance. Her father heard that she 
was coming. He blamed Hugo and struck. him so 
hard that the boy fell down, wounded to death. 
But when the angry father saw the child he loved 
best dying through his violence, contrition seized 
him and he began to see the terrible wickedness 
of his hardness of heart. Then Ottilia entered 
and sank on her knees before her father. And he 
yielded at last and, raising her from the ground, 
gave her the kiss of peace. 

From that time things changed in the castle. 
Ottilia’s gentleness and piety completed the con- 
version of her father. After this Adalrich emu- 
lated his God-fearing wife in good works. 

When Ottilia expressed a desire to found a com- 
munity of pious virgins, her father joyfully con- 
sented. He gave her Castle Hohenburg, after- 
ward called Odilienberg. Ottilia turned it into a 
convent, whose first abbess she was. At the foot 
of the hill she built a hospital for the sick and the 
poor. At last her parents also moved to a house 
near the convent to prepare themselves for a 
happy death. 


ST. OTTILIA. 


103 


As the abbess, Ottilia was a model for her spir- 
itual daughters. With prayers and meditations 
she combined works of penance and of charity. 
Every day she went to the hospital herself and 
helped care for the sick with her own hands. 

God glorified His faithful servant by giving her 
the power of working miracles. To this day a 
little spring flows from the side of a rock from 
which it burst at the prayer of the saint for a poor 
sick man whom she met, fainting here for thirst. 
Those suffering from diseases of the eye bathe in 
it, asking the prayers of St.. Ottilia, the patroness 
of the blind. 

After a touching farewell to her sisters in the 
convent, Ottilia closed her eyes to the light of 
earth on December 2d, in the year 720, to look 
upon Him who dwells in eternal light. To her 
grave on the Odilienberg, which means Odilia’s 
Hill, pilgrims go to this day, particularly from 
Alsace, as Ottilia is the patroness of that province. 

You who read this story of Ottilia each have two 
eyes — two clear, bright eyes. Think what a great 
gift is sight. You can see the blue sky, the golden 
sunshine, the many-colored flowers, the green 
grass, the chirping birds, and all the other ani- 
mals. With your eyes you can see your dear par- 
ents, your sisters and brothers, your playmates, 


104 


ST. OTTILIA. 


and all the people. But poor little Ottilia was 
blind, and yet she had done no wrong; she was an 
innocent child. Indeed it is a great gift, the sight 
of the eyes. Be thankful for it, and never let 
your eyes rest upon anything sinful and wicked, 
for that is very wrong. 

Outside of your eyes, you have, dear children, 
many other gifts that were denied to poor little 
Ottilia. You have your home, and the care and 
love of your father and mother. And are you 
thankful for these gifts, too? 

The senseless animals know those who are kind 
to them, and show their gratitude by affection and 
obedience. How much more should man, 'who is 
gifted with reason, show his gratitude to the good 
God? 

St. John Chrysostom says: “ The thought of 
the beneficence of God is the best teacher of a 
virtuous life.” And St. Hieronymus says that the 
greatness of the gifts we have received from God 
surpasses the limits of human understanding. 



ST. ANDREA CORSINI. 

The parents of the holy Bishop, Andrea Cor- 
sini, lived in Florence. For a long time they had 
no child, and therefore prayed often and fervently 
that God might give them an heir. 

One day when they were in the cathedral they 
heard the words from Holy Scripture: “The 
tithes and first-fruits shalt thou give me, and the 
first-born among thy sons shalt thou consecrate 
to me.” These words moved them wonderfully, 
and they both vowed that if their prayer was 
heard they would give their child to religion. 

And, on the 30th of November in the year 1302, 
God gave them a son. He was named Andrea, 
because the feast of St. Andrew was being cele- 
brated on that day. Corsini was the name of the 
noble family to which the parents belonged. 

Remembering their vow, the parents tried to raise 
their child in piety and in the fear of God. But 
to their great grief, Andrea resisted their teach- 
ings. He was of a lively temperament, and loved 
105 


106 


ST. ANDREA CORSINl. 


i'un and gaiety; leaving the ways of virtue little 
by little, he fell in with evil companions and 
gave himself up to dissipations. And then, as 
well as now, it was true that evil associations cor- 
rupt good morals. 

How his good parents suffered the while! Par- 
ticularly was his poor mother, Perigrina, sore of 
heart, for her prayers and pleadings were alike 
wasted on the wayward son. She found her only 
consolation in prayer to Mary. “ Oh, Mother of 
Our Saviour,” she prayed, “ thou knowest that I 
dedicated my son to thee in his earliest infancy. 
Thou knowest that I have done everything I could 
to keep him unspotted from the temptations of 
the world. Oh, pray for him, that he may return 
to God and not be lost for all eternity! ” 

One day when the poor mother was praying like 
this again, the son came into her room. He was 
just getting ready to go out for some wild revel. 
Then his mother said to him: "I do not doubt 
any longer that you are that wolf which I saw in 
my dreams before you were born. Yet the wolf I 
saw went to the house of the Carmelites and was 
there suddenly changed into a lamb. The first 
part of my dream has proved true. But when will 
the second part be fulfilled? When will you 
change from a wolf into a lamb? ” 


ST. ANDREA CORSINI. 


107 


These words of the mother and the tears she 
shed, as she said them, moved the son, so that he 
went at once to the Carmelite church. He fell on 
his knees before the altar of the Blessed Virgin. 
He wept for grief over his past life and, moved 
by the grace of God, he decided not to go back to 
the world, but to remain in the monastery. 

At the end of the year Andrea took the vows 
of the Order. He was altogether changed, and the 
wolf had truly become a lamb. He now loved 
prayer, silence, humility, obedience, and penance. 
Although he was assailed by temptations, his ar- 
dor did not cool. The result of his striving was 
that he constantly became more perfect in virtue. 

He was sent by his superiors to Paris to study, 
and here, too, his progress was edifying. After a 
few years he returned as doctor of theology. 

In the year 1328 he wap ordained to the priest- 
hood. He began his labors by preaching in Flor- 
ence. After a short time he was chosen prior of 
his monastery. A little later he was made Bishop 
of Fiesole, though in his humility he protested 
against the honor, and now lived entirely for the 
salvation of his fellow men and his own perfec- 
tion. He doubled his works of penance, fasted, 
wore a hair shirt next his skin, slept on the hard 
wood, and prayed day and night. 


108 


ST. ANDREA COUSINI. 


Strict as Andrea Oorsini was with himself, he 
was most forbearing and gentle with others, par- 
ticularly sinners, whom he thus won to penitence. 
His love for the poor was boundless. 

On January 6th, 1373, the soul of the holy 
Bishop went to heaven, there to praise the Lamb 
of God forever. 

Obedient and pious children are the greatest 
delight of parents; disobedient and wicked chil- 
dren are their greatest grief. How happy are the 
parents who can say: “ Our child is as meek and 
gentle as a lamb.” But how sore is the heart of 
those who must say: “ Our child is like a wolf." 

0, you children who read this, what do your 
parents say of you? Are you gentle and patient, 
meek and obedient as a lamb? Or are you bold 
and wild and deceitful as a wolf? Ask yourselves, 
and then let your own conscience answer. And 
if you have to answer “ I am like a wolf,” then, 
I beg of you, follow the example of St. Andrea 
Corsini. 



ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in the year 1226 
in the kingdom of Naples. His father was a count, 
and was of the family of Aquin. The family home 
was Castle Rocca-Secca. Even as a child, St. 
Thomas seemed blessed. Once when he was to be 
bathed he held a little card with the words “ Ave 
Maria ” on it in his hands, and no one in the house 
had given it to him. 

When the boy was five years old he was sent to 
the Benedictines on Mount Casino for training 
and instruction. Here he showed as great dili- 
gence in study as he did in pious practices. His 
teachers said that they never before had had such 
a wonderfully gifted and so touchingly pious a 
child. 

What do your teachers say of you, dear chil- 
dren? Such wonderful gifts of mind as St. 
Thomas Aquinas had, God has not given every 
child, but diligent and pious you can all be, and 

by diligence manv natural gifts can be replaced. 

109 



110 


ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 


Even when he was only ten years old, Thomas 
had progressed so far in his studies that he could 
be sent to the high school in Naples. Here he 
carefully avoided all dangerous society; prayer 
and study were his preference. He liked, too, to 
give alms to the poor. Full of love for J esus and 
filled with a dislike for worldly pleasures, he de- 
cided when he was seventeen years old to enter 
the Dominican Order. 

This resolve was doubtless pleasing to God, but 
worldly minded people tried to persuade Thomas 
not to do so. His mother was against the reli- 
gious life; his proud brothers, Landulf and Eay- 
nald, could not bear to think that a count of 
Aquin should become a beggarly monk, as they 
put it. Everything was tried by them to turn 
Thomas from his desire. And when persua- 
sion did not succeed, they did not hesitate to use 
force. 

To protect Thomas against the persecutions of 
his relatives, his superiors sent him to Paris. He 
started out on the journey, but his brothers seized 
him, dragged him to the family castle, and locked 
him up in a tower. Here Thomas was a prisoner 
for two years. But nothing was able to shake his 
steadfastness, and his determination to heed the 
voice of God rather than the commands of men. 


ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 


Ill 


A woman who was sent into his room to tempt 
him he drove ont with a burning firebrand from 
the hearth. His two sisters who tried to coax him 
to give up the religious life were so carried away, 
when he spoke to them as if inspired of the vanity 
of earthly things, that they let their brother down 
from the tower in a basket. Below his brothers 
in religion received him. 

After returning to the monastery, Thomas was 
sent to Cologne by his superiors, to attend the 
lectures of the great Albertus Magnus, whose re- 
nown then reached to every part of Europe. Un- 
der this great teacher Thomas made wonderful 
progress. Nevertheless, he was so humble and si- 
lent that some of his fellow pupils nicknamed 
him the “ silent ox.” But Albertus Magnus said 
this ox would soon make a sound that the whole 
world would hear. 

When he was barely twenty-two years old, 
Thomas became a professor. As such he taught in 
Paris, in Bologna, Fondi, Pisa, and Orvieto with 
extraordinary success. It was true: the whole world 
spoke of him and heard of him. He was looked 
upon as a giant of knowledge. But did he become 
vain? Oh, no; humbly he once followed to mar- 
ket a lay brother who did not know him, and car- 
ried a basket for him. He only sought to promote 


112 


ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 


the glory of God by his knowledge and his angelic- 
ally pnre life. Prayer was his constant compan- 
ion. Indeed, he attained to his great wisdom 
chiefly by prayer. The Holy Spirit inspired him 
when he occupied himself with the mysteries of 
God. 

The saint wrote many books on the truths of 
the faith, and these are written with such clear- 
ness and are thought out so acutely that they are 
to this day the foundation of the study of theol- 
ogy. When Thomas had completed a part of his 
works, the Lord said to him: “ Thou hast writ- 
ten well of Me, Thomas. What dost thou ask for 
reward?” To which the saint answered, “Noth- 
ing but Thee, Lord.” 

Exhausted by his great mental labors, Thomas 
wished to retire to the monastery at Naples, 
which was very dear to him. But Pope Gregory 
X. sent for him to come to the Council at Lyons. 
On the way there the saint had an attack of fever. 
He was received and cared for in the convent of 
Fossa Nuova, but on the 7th of March, 1274, he 
went home to God, the First Source of all wisdom. 

St. Thomas Aquinas, like St. Augustine and 
St. Ambrose, is called a doctor of the Church. 
Because he was truly an angel in his labors as a 
teacher, he is called the “ angelic doctor.” 



ST. FRANCIS OF SALES. 



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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 


113 


To you, dear children, the saint teaches eager- 
ness to study. Be diligent, that you may give 
pleasure to your parents and teachers, and that 
you may get along later in life. But unite prayer 
with your diligence and industry, as St. Thomas 
did. Prayer will preserve you from the pride 
that destroys, if you succeed in distancing others 
in school. 



ST. LIDWINA. 

It was Palm Sunday of the year 138Q, In Schie- 
dam in Holland, in the parish church, the Passion 
of Our Lord was being sung, when a little daugh- 
ter was born to a poor couple of that town. The 
child was called Lidwina, which means “ weeping 
for sadness.” And indeed the name seemed to 
have a prophetic meaning. For truly the child to 
whom the name was given was destined to a life 
of sadness and pain from her fifteenth j^ear to her 
death. 

Lidwina, who was also called Lidia, was beauti- 
ful of face and figure. There were suitors for 
her hand even in her earliest maidenhood. But 
the maiden, raised by a pious mother, had taken 
the vow of virginity even in her tenth year. For 
this reason she refused all suitors, and said to 
her father, who would have liked to have had a 
rich son-in-law: “ If I can not avoid being sought 
for in any other way, I shall so disfigure myself 
that no one will want me an} r more.” 

114 



ST. LIB WIN A. 


115 


It was true, she should not be sought any more; 
Lidwina’s heavenly Bridegroom would take care 
of that. 

It was Candlemas. After the custom of Hol- 
land, the Dutch boys and girls amused themselves 
on the ice. The boys and girls skated merrily, 
and Lidwina, too. Then it happened that one of 
her friends, slipping and falling, caught Lidwina 
and threw her so heavily on a pile of ice that one 
of Lidwina’s ribs was broken. This was the be- 
ginning of the dreadful malady from which Lid- 
wina suffered for thirty-eight years with indescrib- 
able patience. 

Although Lidwina’s parents called a physician 
to treat her, the broken rib would not knit. 
First, a large internal abscess formed, which was 
most painful, and the pus from which sometimes 
came out through her mouth. This abscess 
caused her to be very thirsty, and yet if she tried 
to drink she would immediately vomit what she 
had swallowed. 

At first Lidwina crept around the house on her 
hands and knees, but at last she became so feeble 
that she had to go to bed. And for thirty-three 
years she lay thus in bed. 

Soon her body became so weak and stiff that 
she could hardly move a limb, and had to lie on 


116 


ST. LTD WIN A. 


her back all the time. Headache, backache, sore 
throat — day and night she was in misery some- 
where. Her right arm became entirely useless, 
and parts of her body suffered from bed-sores, 
while sometimes blood would come from her nose 
and mouth. 

In the beginning of her sickness Lidwina was im- 
patient. When her friends came to see her and she 
saw them well and happy she could not help but 
wish that she, too, might get better, and then she 
cried and complained. Her father confessor ad- 
vised her to be patient, and thus to increase the 
merits of her soul, and for her comfort to think 
of the sufferings of Christ. Lidwina began these 
meditations, but ceased after a while because of 
indifference. Then her confessor said to her: 
“ You must make yourself think of the suffering 
Christ/’ Lidwina obeyed, and behold! gradually 
she began to feel such sweet joy in these medita- 
tions on the sufferings of the Saviour, that it 
seemed to her that not she, but the Saviour, bore 
the pains of her body 

Lidwina’s sufferings increased constantly. An 
intermittent fever attacked her, which lasted for 
seventeen years. The sick girl would burn with 
fever and then shake with an icy chill. For a long 
time she could not take food, nor drink, nor could 


ST. LID WIN A. 


117 


she sleep. It seemed beyond understanding that 
she should live, but the holy communion gave her 
some strength. At last her internal organs 
seemed to be degenerating, and she would vomit 
pieces of lung and other matter. That was not 
enough. Her right eye became blind and the left 
very weak. Now she could not endure the light 
any longer, but had to lie in the dark all the time. 
Because a feather bed was unbearable on account 
of her many bed-lores, she had to lie on straw 
with her back against a hard board. What a piti- 
ful fate! Then came the terrible winter of 1408, 
when even the fishes in the rivers froze to death. 
Lidwina’s poor limbs turned black from the cold. 
But even this was not all. A stone in her bladder 
gave her such pain that she was often unconscious 
for several hours from.it. 

The greater the pains she suffered, the more 
beautiful and real became her patience. It may 
even be said that she suffered with a cheerful 
heart. The constant meditation on the sufferings 
of Christ, prayer, and frequent communion filled 
her with an unspeakable sweetness and heavenly 
peace. 

And yet the measure of her miseries was not 
full. Her mother died, and then her father, and 
all who were near to her and loved her. For- 


118 


ST. LIB WIN A. 


saken, she lay in her little room under the roof. 
Then a malicious woman came into her room and 
called her a hypocrite; and rough officials and 
physicians pestered her with their curiosity. 

At last the Saviour put upon her the stigmata 
of His holy wounds, a new source of pain, and yet, 
too, of heavenly consolation. “ If I could obtain 
a surcease of pain by one Hail Mary,” said the 
saint now, “ I would not say it.” And the Sa- 
viour consoled her in her desolation. Often He 
sent His angels. Then her poor little room be- 
came filled with sweetest odors and heavenly 
radiance, and behold! this radiance did not blind 
Lidwina’s sick eyes. 

In the last year of her life the saint often saw 
a rose-bush. Her guardian angel revealed to her 
that when the buds should all have opened she 
would die. The fulfilment of the vision came 
soon. On Easter night in 1433 Lidwina heard the 
heavenly Alleluia, and on the third day after 
Easter, April 14th, her angelic soul left her pain- 
racked body. Soon the corpse shone with a won- 
derful radiance and beauty. From far and near 
people came to see the miracle. 

When you are sick, dear children, there is no 
better way to cultivate patience than prayer, the 
sacraments, and the contemplation of the suffer- 


ST. LID WIN A . 


119 


ings of Our Lord. By the means of these, Lid- 
wina made her path of suffering the path to 
heaven. Christ Himself says: 

" If any man will follow Me, let him deny him- 
self and take up his cross and follow Me.” 

Therefore do not complain, dear children, if 
you are sick. The sickness may be a means for 
your salvation in the hands of God. 



ST. FRANCIS BORGIA. 

St. Francis Borgia, confessor, was the son 
of a Spanish dnke, and first saw the light of the 
world in 1510 in the city of Gandia. From his 
childhood he showed a pious inclination, which 
was strengthened by wise training. Diligent in 
attending Mass, he also liked to hear the sermons. 
One sermon" on the sufferings of Christ and an- 
other on the Last Judgment moved him wonder- 
fully; after that nothing could take away from 
him the fear of God. 

Even as a youth, Francis would have liked to 
enter a religious Order, but his father sent the 
hoy of seventeen to the court of the Emperor 
Charles V. In the midst of the temptations 
of court life Francis kept his soul unspotted 
by vice and dissipations. This steadfastness he 
owed to his fervent prayers, to his veneration for 
Mary, his penances, and his frequent confession 
and communion. His pious life won for him the 
respect of all. At the request of the emperor, 
120 


ST. FRANCIS BORGIA. 


121 


with whom he was a favorite, he married a lady 
of the court who, like him, was noted for her 
piety. 

The pious couple led an exemplary life. The 
eight children which God sent them were raised 
in His fear. Francis himself employed his time 
conscientiously. He abhorred gambling, and 
would not permit his servants to play for money 
either. “ There is much loss in gambling: the 
loss of money, the loss of time, the loss of devo- 
tion, and of conscience.” He scorned to read idle 
books merely for amusement, but all the greater 
pleasure did he take in reading devout and spirit- 
ual works. Several illnesses from which he suf- 
fered helped to turn his mind even more from the 
things of the world to the things of heaven. 

In the year 1539 the Empress Isabella died. 
Francis was given the duty of escorting her body 
from Madrid to Granada. Before the body was 
let down into the tomb the coffin was opened once 
more. All those present shrank back in horror 
at the grewsome sight. The face of the empress, 
who had been noted for her beauty, was horribly 
disfigured by the decomposition that had set in. 
A pestilential odor came from the dead body and 
drove every one away. Borgia alone stood still and 
meditated on what he saw. After the burial was 


122 


ST. FUASCIS BORGIA. 


completed he went to a room, fell on his knees be- 
fore a picture of the crucified Christ, and cried 
with tears in his eyes: “ No, no, Lord; after this 
I do not want to serve any master of whom 
death can deprive me.” And he promised, as soon 
as it should he possible for him to do so, to enter 
an Order. 

After returning from Granada, Francis was ap- 
pointed viceroy of Catalonia by the emperor. It 
was a brilliant and great position, but, in his 
grand palace, Francis led the life of a religious. 
Prayers and fasts he combined with the frequent 
reception of the sacraments. Every Sunday and 
holy day he knelt humbly among his subjects and 
received the body of the Lord. He administered 
his high office with the strictest justice and with 
great care and gentleness towards the poor, so 
that the people loved him like a father. 

The death of his father compelled Francis to 
return to his home and take up the government of 
his own duchy. Soon after that, in the year 1546, 
his wife died also* Remembering his vow, Fran- 
cis set his affairs in order, arranged for his chil- 
dren, and went to Rome to St. Ignatius, the 
founder of the Society of Jesus. There he heard 
a rumor that Pope Julius intended to make him 
a Cardinal. Shrinking from such an honor in his 


ST. FRANCIS BORGIA. 


123 


humility, he hurried hack to Spain, and was or- 
dained to the priesthood at Ognate. 

As a priest the former duke and viceroy took 
special pleasure in going from house to house and 
asking for alms for Christ’s sake, in instructing 
children and the poor in the truths of religion, 
and in preaching in the various provinces of Spain 
and Portugal in obedience to the orders of St. 
Ignatius. St. Francis was destined to see the 
death of Emperor Charles V., who had retired to 
a monastery, and to preach his funeral sermon. 

The election of Francis to be the general of the 
whole Society of Jesus compelled him to go to 
Rome to live. For seven years he directed the 
affairs of the Society with wisdom and energy, 
giving particular attention to the missions. 

After a very earnest and pious preparation for 
his death, the saint died at Rome in the year 1572, 
at the age of sixty-two. His holy body is laid to 
rest in Madrid. 

St. Francis Borgia was wont to say: “ The 
death of the empress waked me from death.” The 
saint meant the death of the soul. My dear chil- 
dren, bring to your minds often how death gives 
the human body and all its beauties and graces 
over to decay. Then you will find it foolish to be 
vain of your bodies and to put great worth on 


ST. FRANCIS BORGIA. 


124 


physical attractions. Then you will find it wise 
to strive for the everlasting, the eternal, the in- 
destructible. Particularly if you are inclined to 
vanity and the delight of the senses — think of 
death. 



ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA. 

St. Stanislaus Iyostka, confessor, was born 
in the year 1550 at Castle Kostkovo in Po- 
land. His people were wealthy and belonged to 
the nobility. Even as a child his piety and kind- 
ness of heart were so marked that the servants 
always spoke of him as “the angel.” Stanislaus 
deserved this name all the more because he loved 
holy purity above all things. He blushed, he even 
fainted when an impure word was spoken in his 
presence. Fine clothes, play, company, and fes- 
tivities did not please the boy; his dearest occupa- 
tion was to study and to pray. 

When Stanislaus was fourteen years old, he and 
an elder brother, Paul, were sent to Vienna, ac- 
companied by a tutor. In Vienna the boys were 
placed in a Jesuit school. Stanislaus distin- 
guished himself at this school by his piety and his 
diligence. Then the school was closed on account 
of war, and the tutor and his two charges- took 

lodgings in the house of a Lutheran. 

125 


126 


ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA. 


Paul lived as did most of the students of those 
days and now, too, who attend the higher schools. 
He loved company and pleasures of all kinds. 
Stanislaus, on the other hand, was studious and 
quiet, and kept up his devout practices. He 
prayed much, fasted, and on certain days wore a 
hair shirt next to his skin. Before attending his 
classes he visited the Blessed Sacrament in the 
church. He recited the Rosary every day and at- 
tended two Masses daily. Every evening he exam- 
ined his conscience. At midnight he arose to 
pray, if it did not happen that this hour found 
him still praying. Every Sunday and holy day he 
received communion. Then his face seemed to 
shine with a holy radiance like that of an angel. 
He called the Queen of Heaven his Mother, and 
prayed to her every day, imploring her blessing. 

This saintly life was offensive to his worldly 
minded brother. In his anger he abused Stanis- 
laus — even struck him. What did Stanislaus do? 
Did he talk in the same way or strike back? 
Oh, no; nothing like that. The saintly youth 
endured the abuse with the greatest patience, only 
saying: “ I desire to live in a way that I know 
is pleasing to God, whether it pleases my brother 
or not.” 

At this time Stanislaus became seriously ill. 


ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA. 


127 


When the illness threatened to be fatal, the youth 
yearned to receive the sacraments of the dying. 
But the Lutheran landlord did not want a Catho- 
lic priest to come into his house with the Vi- 
aticum. And Stanislaus’ brother and his tutor 
gave him no assistance in his pious wishes. Then 
Stanislaus prayed fervently and lo! during the 
night the Host was brought to him in a wonder- 
ful manner by St. Barbara, accompanied by two 
angels. Just after that the Blessed Virgin ap- 
peared to him, holding out the Christ-Child for 
him to kiss. Then she said to him : “ Go into the 
society of my Son.” He was entirely well at once 
and arose, his sole thought now being to enter the 
Soc JL\J ty of Jesus. 

The superiors of the Order in Vienna did not 
want to receive him without the consent of his 
parents. Stanislaus, believing that we must obey 
God rather than men, went secretly to Dillingen 
in Bavaria to the provincial Peter Canisius, and 
told him of his intention, Canisius examined him 
as to his vocation and then sent him to Rome. 
r j nere Stanislaus begged St. Francis Borgia, who 
/as then the general of the Order, for admission, 
and St. Francis granted his request. Stanislaus 
was then seventeen years old. 

As a novice the holy youth edified his brothers 


128 


ST. STANISLAUS KOSTKA. 


in the Order by his obedience, his works of pen- 
ance, his fervent devotion to the Blessed Sacra- 
ment, and his tender veneration of the Mother of 
God. 6ut he was scarcely ten months in the 
house of the Order when he was attacked by a 
fever. As he lay down in bed he made the sign of 
the cross, saying: “ If it is the will of God that 
I do not arise again from this bed, may His will 
be done; and believe me, I shall not arise again.” 
His presentiment was fulfilled. After four days 
he died, ripe for heaven, though still so young. 
It was on the 15th of August, the feast of the 
Assumption, in the }^ear 1568. 

Dear children, it is the duty of brothers and sis- 
ters to give each other a good example. St. 
Stanislaus Ivostka did his part well and faithfully. 
When his older brother rewarded him only with 
abuse and contempt for doing so, Stanislaus re- 
mained calm, patient, and amiable. Do likewise, 
dear children. One more thing I must tell you, 
the holy life of Stanislaus had such an effect on 
his brother in the end, that the brother was 
turned from his wicked and careless ways and 
died a happy death. See, this is the result of the 
example of virtue. 



ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL 


















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ST. TERESA. 

St. Teresa, who was born in Avila in Spain 
in the year 1515, was raised very conscien- 
tiously by her parents, who belonged to the high 
nobility. As a child she read the legends of the 
saints very often. The example of the martyrs 
filled her with a glowing desire to die for Christ 
also. She and a brother secretly left the house of 
their parents to go to Africa among the infidels. 
But just outside of the city they met an uncle, 
who brought the young would-be heroes of the 
faith hack to their anxious parents. When she 
was twelve years old her mother died. Teresa’s 
grief was great. Then one day she knelt down 
before a picture of the Blessed Virgin and prayed: 
“ 0 Mother of mercy, I choose thee now to be my 
mother, receive a poor orphan among thy chil- 
dren.” 

You know, dear children, what one must do to 
remain a u child of Mary.” Teresa forgot for a 

while. She went about with a gay cousin, and 
129 


130 


ST. TERESA. 


spent hours reading romances and tales of adven- 
ture. The result was that she neglected her pray- 
ers, that she spent much time and money for 
clothes and finery, that she became vain and full 
of frivolity; in fact, that she was filled with the 
spirit of the world, instead of God. Yet she pre- 
served her purity as her most priceless treasure. 

Then her anxious father sent his fifteen-year- 
old daughter to a convent of the Augustinians. 
The removal from the occasion of temptation, the 
society of pious Sisters, the renewed reading of 
devout books, all brought about the desired effect, 
and Teresa’s naturally pious inclination was re- 
awakened. But it took a long illness, a stay with 
a saintly uncle, and the reading of the letters of 
St. Jerome to turn the mind of the maiden en- 
tirely from earthly things and move her to serve 
God in the religious life. 

Her father, who loved her tenderly, did not 
want to permit his daughter to enter into an Or- 
der. Then Teresa fled from home, having in 
mind only her eternal salvation and obedience to 
God. On All Souls’ Day in 1533 she was admitted 
into the Carmelite convent at Avila. On the way 
to the convent she was seized by such a violent 
revulsion against the religious life that her whole 
body shook. She looked upon this as a tempta- 


ST. TERESA. 


131 


tion, and kept on her way. No sooner had she 
put on the habit of the Order than an nnspeakable 
peace filled her heart and sonl. 

After a year of holy fervor she took the vows of 
the Order. Soon after that she became sick again, 
and her limbs remained twisted as the result. 
Then she had to struggle for a few years longer 
with the love of the world, developed by the ga}' 
life she led for a while and the reading of roman- 
tic books. At last the meditation on the suffering 
of Christ cured her changefulness of mind, and 
she was filled with fervent love for the crucified 
Saviour. To become like Him through suffering 
was now her desire: “ Either to die, 0 Lord, or to 
suffer, is my only prayer.” 

God sent His handmaiden many trials of the 
mind and of the body, scarcely a day passing for 
her without suffering. To these she added many 
voluntary works of penance. Once the place in 
hell, into which she might have been plunged by 
her indifference, was revealed to her in a vision. 
Her hair rose up in horror at the sight, and her 
eagerness to serve God and to induce others to do 
likewise was doubled after that. Teresa’s soul was 
transfigured by the purest love of God. Christ 
appeared to her repeatedly, and a seraph wounded 
her heart with a fiery arrow. She received the gift 


132 


ST. TERESA. 


of prophecy and, filled with heavenly wisdom, she 
was a leader in the spiritual life. Her great gifts 
are manifest in the writings which she left to us. 

But with all the gifts vouchsafed her, Teresa 
was so humble that she looked upon herself 
as one of the greatest sinners of the world, and 
wished to be so thought by others, too. 

When the saint prayed she was sometimes seen 
to be surrounded by a heavenly radiance. Once 
she was heard to exclaim: “ Oh, but one God, one 
death, one soul.” Afterwards she explained her 
words. There is but one God; if He is offended, 
there is none other to whom we can turn. There 
is but one death; if one dies once out of the state 
of grace he can never return to die again more 
happily. There is but one soul; if a man has lost 
that, he has none other to save. 

In the convents of her Order she introduced the 
old severe rules in spite of many obstacles and 
difficulties. On the basis of these rigid rules she 
founded many new convents for women and mon- 
asteries for men, for which reason she is called 
the foundress of the Reformed Carmelites. 

On a journey to Alba the saint passed away, 
consumed by the desire to behold her heavenly 
Bridegroom. This was in the year 1582. In Alba 
her uncorrupted body rests in a beautiful tomb. 


ST. TERESA. 


138 


From the life of St. Teresa you have learned, 
my dear children, the result of the reading of idle 
and indifferent books. The reading of a single 
frivolous book in the unformed time of youth 
can give a false direction to a whole life. And 
not always is the damage done by such read- 
ing repaired and atoned for in after-life, as was 
the case with St. Teresa. Beware, therefore, 
dear children, of careless reading, and do not read 
a hook unless it is given to you to read by those 
who are older and more experienced than you are. 
Beware, too, of the love of dress, for it leads away 
from spiritual things and from heaven, and fos- 
ters pride and vanity. When you dress to go to 
church on Sunday, remember that it is not for the 
sake of the people hut for the sake of God that 
you do so. If you wish to read on Sunday, read 
a devout and instructive hook. By doing so you 
keep the day holy, as the Third Commandment 
reminds you that you must keep it. 

He who reads frivolous hooks on Sunday, who 
indulges in vain thoughts about clothes, makes 
himself worthy of temporal and eternal punish- 
ment. For the Lord who said in the Old Testa- 
ment that he who breaks the Sabbath shall die 
the death, is still the same, and will remain the 
same through all eternity. 



BLESSED PETER CANISIUS. 

The holy Church has been persecuted in all 
lands and at all times. Yet the most dangerous 
enemies of the Church were not the great and 
mighty pagans, but the heretics who separated 
from the Church and started religions of their 
own. Thus we have the split in the Church. In the 
year 1521 Luthor began to preach against Catho- 
lic truth and found many followers in Germany. 
For this reason we have the present division 
among Christians. But the Church was not over- 
powered and never can be, because Jesus Christ 
promised that she should not be when He said 
that “ the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
her.” Never has He deserted His Church. This was 
shown, too, in a wonderful way when Luther made 
his attack on the Church in 1521, for in that same 
year a child was bom who was to lead back thou- 
sands to the faith. This child later was known as 
Peter Canisius, whose three hundredth anniversary 
was solemnly celebrated on December 21, 1897. 

184 



BLESSED PETER CAJSTISIUS, 135 

Peter Canisius was born in the duchy of Gelder- 
land, which belonged to Germany then, though it 
now is part of the Netherlands. His family-name 
was De Hondt — that is, hound; in Latin, canis; 
hence his later name of Canisius. His father, 
whose name was Jacob, was an honored doctor of 
law and a good man. His mother, Agidia, was 
noted for her piety and virtue. 

Peter lost this good mother at an early age. 
After her death, his father married again. His 
second mother brought her sister to live with her. 
This sister was especially kind to Peter, and raised 
him in piety and in the ways of religion. The 
boy loved to build little altars for himself and to 
imitate the ceremonies he saw the priests per- 
form in church. He also liked to go to lonesome 
places and to pray there. During the carnival by 
which Shrove Tuesday was celebrated, as was 
then the custom in his native city, Nymwegen, the 
boy increased his prayers, did works of penance, 
and did not eat sweets nor drink wine, as every- 
body else did. 

As many things distracting to the boy as a stu- 
dent naturally happened in his father’s house, 
Peter was sent to live in the house of his tutor. 
Here the companionship of other boys less care- 
fully trained came near spoiling Peter. Fortu- 


136 


BLESSED PETER GANIS1US. 


nately, he did not remain there long, hut was sent 
to Cologne when he was fifteen years old to study 
law. 

Here he was fortunate in that he lodged in the 
house of a most God-fearing man, Canon Andreas 
Herll. Other students lived there also, and their 
common tutor was the famous Nicholas van 
Esche. Amidst such surroundings and teachings 
Peter was confirmed in piety and advanced in 
knowledge. Diligent prayer, the frequent recep- 
tion of the sacraments, and careful reading of the 
lives of the saints were the chief means the youth 
used to remain in communion with God and to 
resist temptations, of which there were many. 

The youth completed his legal studies in Co- 
logne. Then, attracted by the example and the 
words of the famous associate of St. Ignatius in 
the foundation of the Society of Jesus, Le Eevre, 
or, as he is better known, Father Faber, he joined 
the Society of Jesus. He was the first German to 
do so. 

Now Canisius, with truly apostolic zeal, set to 
work to defend the Church in Germany against 
the Lutheran heresies. As preacher, professor, 
and catechist he did great and wonderful work for 
truth. In his two catechisms he gave the people 
the books from which they learned the truths of 


BLESSED PETER CANISIUS. 


137 


religion for three hundred years. Indeed, he has 
been justly revered as the “ second apostle of Ger- 
many.” 

His learning and his eloquence were first brought 
to bear in Cologne against the new heresies. He 
induced Charles V. to depose the heretical arch- 
bishop, and to his efforts it is chiefly due that the 
ancient faith was preserved in the old “ holy ” 
city of Cologne. 

In the year 1549 Peter Canisius took the four 
vows of the Society of Jesus, before the saintly 
founder of the Order, and was sent by him to 
Bavaria. As a teacher in the high school at Ingol- 
stadt he confirmed the growing youth in the 
truths of the faith. His piety and understanding, 
however, were so noted that distinguished men in 
all walks of life came to him for advice in the 
most important matters. 

In the year 1551 the Emperor Ferdinand I. 
asked the now famous preacher and teacher to 
come to Vienna as court preacher. At the same 
time he was appointed a professor and rector of 
the University of Vienna, which he reorganized on 
a truly Catholic basis. From 1554 to 1558 he ad- 
ministered the affairs of the Archdiocese of Vi- 
enna. In 1556 St. Ignatius appointed him the 
first provincial of his Order in Germany. In this 


138 


blessed Peter ganisius. 


position his statesmanlike dealings with the gov- 
ernments, his missions, conversions, the establish- 
ment of monasteries and schools, together with 
his many writings, preserved whole provinces and 
cities from the poison of the new heresies. 

Switzerland, too, was blessed by the presence 
and labors of the holy man. His zeal in Canton 
Freiburg resulted in the conversion of every 
heretic there. 

In spite of his great labors, the humble-minded 
religious did not permit a day to pass without 
prayers, meditations, and penances. In prayer he 
sought and found the strength for his labors. 

For forty years he labored without ceasing; 
then his strength began to fail. He died when he 
was seventy-six years of age, on the feast of St. 
Thomas the Apostle, 1597. At his death he was 
the rector of the Jesuit College in Freiburg, in 
Switzerland. 

Peter Canisius worked through a whole long 
life for the doctrine of Christ. And for you; chil- 
dren, it is often hard work to sit still and be at- 
tentive at Sunday-school for one hour. You must 
feel ashamed of such indifference when you think 
of blessed Peter. Would you not rather strive 
to have some of his zeal for our holy religion? 



ST. PASCHAL BAYLOK 

God has found His children in every walk of 
life and led them into the ways of grace. In His 
eyes kings and royal princes and poor shepherd 
lads are alike, if they but love Him and serve Him 
and obey His commandments. 

St. Paschal was the child of poor peasants. He 
was horn in 1540 in Aragon in Spain in the vil- 
lage of Torre Fermosa. 

The hoy had to herd sheep and goats, hut found 
much pleasure in this humble employment. In 
his love for the poor and humble Saviour he was 
willing to be poor and humble, too. For this rea- 
son he never wore shoes, hut followed the herd 
barefoot. An image of the Blessed Virgin was 
carved in the head of his shepherd’s staff, and 
often during the day he would kneel down and 
pray fervently to Mary and to her divine Son. 

His parents were so poor that they could not 
pay his school-money. But Paschal had a great 
desire to read devout hooks and to learn more of 

the truths of religion. But how could he learn 
139 



140 


ST. PASCHAL BAYLON. 


to read with no one to teach him? Then God 
inspired him with a happy idea: Whenever the 
boy went out with his herd he took a book with 
him and asked the passers-by to tell him the let- 
ters. They did so, surprised by the poor barefoot 
hoy’s eagerness to learn. In this way Paschal 
learned to read and write. Now he chose the 
lonesomest places to pasture his animals, and 
spent his time studying the truths of the Catholic 
religion. 

After Paschal was a little older he went into the 
service of a wealthy landowner as a herder. He 
kept up the pious practices of his childhood. 
Then, too, he loved to look upon the grandeur 
and beauty of nature to learn from it the gran- 
deur and glory of its Creator. Then he would 
sink on his knees and pray, and every one who 
saw him like this was edified by the sight. 

His employer was not the last to see what a 
treasure he had in his poor and humble shepherd. 
“ I will adopt you as a son and make you the heir 
of my estate,” he said to Paschal. But the lad an- 
swered, “ Poverty and solitude are my happiness,” 
and refused the honor. 

Soon Paschal was to find that life as a shepherd 
had more thorns than those which stung his naked 
feet. They were the thorns which wounded his 


ST. PASCHAL BA YLON. 


141 


conscientious heart. Paschal could not prevent 
altogether that his animals sometimes wandered 
into strange fields and nibbled where they should 
not. Then, too, the shepherds who herded with 
him often quarrelled among each other. Once the 
overseer of the shepherds wanted him to steal 
some grapes. But Paschal refused to obey, saying: 
“ I would rather let myself be tom to pieces than 
take the least thing which is not mine, for to do 
so is a sin before God.” 

The prickings of these thorns awakened a de- 
sire in the holy shepherd to leave the world en- 
tirely and to serve God in a monastery. He bade 
his parents and his brothers and sisters farewell, 
and, taking some bread and a gourd filled with 
water, he journeyed on foot to a Franciscan mon- 
astery near Montfort. 

As Paschal was a stranger around there, the 
monks would not receive him at once. So he 
took service as a shepherd once more, staying in 
the neighborhood of the monastery. Here he 
continued his holy and self-denying life. His 
conscientiousness was so great that he made good 
the smallest damage that his herd did from his 
own earnings. When the others laughed at him 
for this he said: “ Many little things may also 
lead a man to hell.” 


142 


ST. PASCHAL BAT LON. 


At last in the year 1564 Paschal was received by 
the barefooted Franciscans near Valencia, but 
only as a lay brother. And such he remained to 
his death, though he was often asked to join the 
choir-brothers. He chose the humblest tasks and 
took a holy pleasure in obedience to all commands. 
Once, for instance, he was given a letter to be 
delivered to the general of the Order, who lived in 
Paris. Barefoot, in the habit of his Order, he 
traveled right through the Huguenot provinces, 
where he was subject to the ridicule and persecu- 
tions of the enemies of the holy Church. Stones 
were often thrown at him, and twice he was im- 
prisoned. Yet, always protected as by a miracle, 
he got back again to his own monastery. 

As the ardent servant of Mary, Paschal loved 
the holy Eosary particularly. To the poor he 
gave everything. His maxim was : “ Towards 

God we should have the heart of a child; towards 
our neighbor, that of a mother; towards our- 
selves, that of a judge.” 

The saint was honored by God even during his 
lifetime by the gift of miracles. It was wonder- 
ful, too, that though he had never studied theol- 
ogy he could explain the most profound doctrines 
of the faith. 

When he was fifty-two years old. Paschal be- 


ST. PASCHAL BAYLON. 


143 


came fatally ill and died on Pentecost of the year 
1592, during the elevation of the Host at Mass. 

How hard it was for St. Paschal to learn to 
read and to write, when he was a poor shepherd 
lad! For you it is much easier. You go to school, 
have teachers who strive to teach you not only to 
read and to write, hut many other things. Do you 
ever consider how many advantages you have in 
this way over thousands of poor children? It is 
your sacred duty to he grateful to God and to 
your teachers all the days of your life. Your 
teachers take for the time being the place of your 
parents, but your parents take the place of God. 
If, therefore, you are not grateful to your teach- 
ers, you are ungrateful towards God, and that is 
a sin. 

The books of stories and tales, for which many 
children are so eager, seemed tiresome and useless 
to St. Paschal; but he was the more eager to study 
the life of Our Lord and of His chosen followers, 
the saints. To learn to know God was- the first 
desire of St. Paschal. Be like him in this regard, 
dear children. St. John Chrysostom says that the 
knowledge of God is the school wherein human 
nature learns virtue. 



ST. JOSEPH. 

Joseph, the great saint whose name is spoken 
all over the world in the same breath with that of 
Jesns and Mary, belonged to the royal house of 
David. But he lived as a poor carpenter of Naza- 
reth in Galilee. For this reason Christ was called 
the Son of the carpenter when He began His pub- 
lic teaching. We know nothing of the birth of St. 
Joseph nor of his childhood and youth. Scripture, 
however, calls him a just man, and truly that is 
saying all that needs to be said. There can be 
no doubt, either, that God gave to Joseph, whom 
He had chosen for such high purposes, the graces 
and advantages that he needed. 

You know, my dear children, what this office 
was — the protector of Mary and the foster-father 
of Jesus. 

After Mary had served for twelve years in the 
Temple at Jerusalem and she had reached her fif- 
teenth year, the priests of the Temple announced 

to her that the time had come for her to be mar- 
144 



ST. BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE 













* 










































































































































































ST. JOSEPH. 


145 


ried. But Mary was much disturbed by this an- 
nouncement, for she had promised the Lord to 
serve Him as a virgin all her life. Therefore she 
asked for time, so she could pray to God for guid- 
ance. With tears and prayers she now besought 
the Lord for help, and behold! she felt within 
herself the heavenly assurance that the Lord 
Himself would protect her vow and give her a 
husband who would he the guardian of her vir- 
ginity. Full of gratitude to God, Mary now left 
the Temple. 

Because she was the last of her branch of the 
family and, moreover, the only child of her par- 
ents, the law of Moses commanded explicitly that 
she would have to be married to a man of her own 
line. Therefore the guardians of the Blessed Vir- 
gin and the priests called together the young men 
of the line of David to choose from among them a 
husband for the daughter of Joachim. 

Among the suitors for the hand of the virtuous 
and beautiful maiden there was a humble and 
quiet man, Joseph, the carpenter. He, too, had 
come in obedience to the law, and in his hum- 
bleness of heart he prayed to the Lord that he 
might not be chosen. But the ways of the Lord 
are not our ways, and the choice did fall upon 
Joseph, for he was the most worthy. 


146 


ST. JOSEPH. 


There is a beautiful tradition about the choice 
of St. Joseph. When the suitors were all assem- 
bled it was found that each one carried a staff. 
The high priest prayed to Glod for a sign that he 
might know which one of the young men should 
he given to Mary as a husband. Then he saw how 
a dove flew upward from the point of St. Joseph’s 
staff, and immediately the staff began to sprout 
and was covered with white lilies. 

Mary, submissive to the will of God, assented to 
the choice of St. J oseph. A few months later the 
marriage took place, and Mary went with her 
spouse to the little house in Nazareth which she 
had inherited from Joachim, her father. 

By the choice of St. J oseph to be the protector 
of Mary, the Lord wishes to teach us that station 
and wealth are nothing in His eyes; that only a 
pure heart is pleasing to Him. It was because of 
his purity that St. Joseph was found worthy to 
be the spouse of Mary. And the means which 
kept him pure were prayer, and hard and patient 
work. He was a carpenter, and St. Justin tells us 
he made yokes and ploughs, and St. Ambrose says 
he cut down trees, built houses, and worked at the 
trade of a carpenter. After he finished work and 
had eaten his food, prayer was his recreation. 
The psalms of his royal ancestor, David, were the 


ST. JOSEPH. 


147 


subject of his meditations. They awakened in 
him, too, the desire for that Messias whose com- 
ing and glory they prophesied. 

After the annunciation to Mary by the angel 
Gabriel that she was chosen to be the Mother of 
the Son of God, and after Mary had visited her 
cousin Elizabeth, an angel also appeared to 
Joseph and revealed to him the divine mother- 
hood of Mary in a dream. When St. J oseph awoke 
he praised God and gave thanks that he was 
deemed worthy to be the protector of Mary and 
of the Son of God. 

St. Joseph went to Bethlehem with the Blessed 
Virgin and stayed with her in the humble stable 
where the Christ-Child was born. With her he 
adored the divine Child. He took her and the 
Infant J esus to Egypt to save the Child from the 
sword of Herod; and came back afterwards to 
Nazareth and lived there the humble life of a 
carpenter. And J esus helped him and was obedi- 
ent to him. The honors that have been vouch- 
safed to St. Joseph are therefore greater than 
any that have been given to the mightiest rulers 
of earth. 

Before Jesus began His public teaching, the 
protector of the Holy Family died in the arms of 
Jesus and Mary. As long as the world has been, 


148 


ST. JOSEPH. 


no man has died amidst such holy surroundings. 
Therefore we invoke St. Joseph as the patron of 
the dying. It is said that his body rests in the 
Valley of Josaphat, where is the tomb of his an- 
cestors. 

“ Work and pray” was the rule of St. Joseph’s 
life. Prayer is as necessary to the life of our soul 
as food and drink are to the life of the body. 
Therefore the Saviour has so strictly commanded 
us to pray both by His word and His example. 
We are created to work, and the life of the great 
mass of people is one of labor from early until 
late. The Saviour, the apostles and all the saints 
teach us to shun idleness and to look upon work 
as a duty. But that work is a means of preserv- 
ing our purity is the especial lesson which the life 
of St. Joseph teaches us. Therefore, children, 
work and pray. 



THE HOLY AYNA CATHARINA EMME- 
RICH. 

The peasant houses of Westphalia are usually 
far apart and lonesome. A number of such 
houses together form a sort of little village. In 
such a village, known as Flamske, and near the 
little town of Coesfeld there was a small house 
with clay-plastered walls and straw-thatched roof. 
Here Anna Catharina Emmerich was born on the 
8th of September, 1774. The very same day she 
was baptized in the Church of St. James in Coes- 
feld. It happened to be the day of the birth of 
Mary, and the blessing of this happy day was to 
he on Anna Catharina from her birth, for the 
Blessed Virgin revealed her power and glory in 
remarkable ways in the child. 

The purest innocence in thought and word and 
act were soon to he observed in Anna Catharina. 
She constantly saw her guardian angel at her side. 
She shrank with such horror from all sin, that she 
was wont to pray when she was only three years 
149 



150 BOLT ANNA CATHARINA EMMERICH. 


old : “ Oh, dear God, let me die now, because 

when people get big they offend you with big 
sins.' 5 To protect the purity of her mind she put 
upon herself self-denials and penances. Every- 
thing that her parents gave her that would have 
been a delight to other children, she carried to 
a picture of the Blessed Virgin which she had 
hidden in a corner of the barn. Before she was 
quite four years old she would stint herself at meal- 
times, saying in her heart: “ I give it to you, 
0 Lord, that you may give it to the poor, who 
need it most/’ If she saw a sick person she 
prayed to God that she might be permitted to 
suffer for him. She practised arising at night 
to pray, and kept up this habit all her life. Won- 
derful visions and apparitions were vouchsafed 
to the child of grace, so that her parents were 
much astonished. 

The parents, who were simple peasant people, 
were very pious, and raised Anna Catharina as 
they did thAr other eight children. She was early 
taught to work, and, although she was delicate, 
yet she did her work cheerfully. She herded the 
cows or helped in the fields. Here, too, God was 
always near her, and held her to piety by visions. 

In her twelfth year Anna Catharina received 
her first holy communion. Through this the love 


HOLY ANNA OATH AKIN A EMMERICH. 15 1 


of God was so strengthened in her heart, that she 
lived more severely than a penitent thereafter. To 
he more like the suffering Christ, she slept for a 
long time on a double wooden cross. To be sure, 
she was not free from temptations of the devil, 
but she conquered these by prayer. 

As the child of poof parents, Anna Catharina 
had to go into service when she was only twelve 
years old. Here she practised obedience, and pre- 
pared to enter the religious life to which she felt 
herself called. The money which she earned she 
gave to the poop. 

When she was in her eighteenth year she was 
confirmed, and the gifts of graces seemed to be 
wonderfully increased with this sacrament. To 
suffer with the Saviour and for Him was her 
dearest wish. For this He appeared to her in the 
Jesuit church at Coesfeld, coming out of the 
tabernacle in the form of a radiant youth, bearing 
a crown of thorns in His right hand and a wreath 
of flowers in His left hand. Anna Catharina 
reached for the crown of thorns. The Saviour 
pressed it upon her brow with both hands and 
then disappeared. From this time Anna felt the 
pricks of the thorns; her head swelled and her 
white head-band was often stained with blood. 
People thought that it was rust-stained, and she 


152 HOLY ANNA CA TH ARINA EMMERICH. 


managed to conceal the true cause of the stains 
until she got into the convent. 

After many difficulties and obstacles, she suc- 
ceeded in entering the convent of the Augustin- 
ians at Duelmen. Here she was destined to en- 
dure great sufferings of the body and of the soul. 
Her illness was treated as a natural one by the 
physicians, although it was a spiritual one and 
connected with the sufferings of Christ. In the 
convent church the Saviour appeared to her cruci- 
fied and covered with blood. She was filled with 
fear at the sight, and the thought came to her 
that a great trial was announced to her by this 
vision. At first she hesitated, but then she re- 
solved to submit to whatever the Lord would put 
upon her, if He would but give 'her patience to 
endure. 

And, indeed, there were hard things before her. 
In 1811 the convent in which she had taken her 
vows was suppressed, and, sick and weak-, the serv- 
ant of Cod had to take a miserable room in an 
ordinary house in Duelmen. A French priest, 
Father Lambert, came to her help and assisted 
her in the needs of her body and of her soul. 
Long and severe illness came upon Anna Cath- 
arina. For the sake of the Saviour she endured 
everything with patience — even with joy. A 


HOLY ANNA CATHARINA EMMERICH. 153 


younger sister who had taken her into her house 
was a hard and ill-natured person. But Anna 
Catharina endured her whims and hard lot for six 
years in patience and pity for the sister who was 
the cause of so much pain to her. 

At last, on December 29, 1812, the five wounds 
were added to the pains of the thorny crown 
and they, too, bled on certain days. Physi- 
cians and prelates examined the wounds and rec- 
ognized their supernatural origin. Curiosity- 
seekers came, too, and to show herself to these was 
very painful to the holy woman. It was her custom 
to hide her bleeding hands under a white cloth and 
to tie up her bleeding forehead with a white hand 
and cover it with a head-dress. In this way she 
lay for years in her little room. 

After she received the stigmata she could not 
take any more nourishment. She suffered these 
things to happen to her with the greatest humility. 
She saw in them not a distinction, but the work 
of the Saviour who had chosen her to he similar 
to Himself in suffering. She prayed God to take 
away the wonderful marks, as they were the cause 
of suspicion and persecution on the part of many 
people. “ My grace is enough for you,” was the 
answer given to her prayer, and the marks re- 
mained. 


154 HOLT ANNA C ATII ARINA EMMERICH. 


It was the desire of the Almighty that His 
faithful servant should hear witness to His own 
crucified love for us. The holy Anna Catharina 
submitted to the will of God and never uttered a 
word of complaint. In return, Christ vouchsafed 
to her wonderful visions, making clear many of 
the mysteries of the faith. At last, on February 
9, 1824, the soul of the holy woman passed from 
her body to receive the crown of life from the 
hands of her heavenly Bridegroom. 

Hear children, if you have sinful inclinations, 
reflect upon the Passion of Christ, for it was just 
because of our sinfulness that He suffered the 
death on the cross. 

The great work of salvation through Jesus 
Christ demands of us a constant and loving grati- 
tude. This we should show in three ways: First, 
we should attend Mass every day, for the holy 
Mass is the repetition of the sacrifice of Golgotha. 
Second, we should often think of the agony and 
death of Jesus, particularly on Thursday and Fri- 
day of each week. On these days we should make 
the way of the cross by saying the stations in 
church if possible. Third, we should keep Lent, 
and particularly Holy Week, each year. 

“ Behold; ” says St. Augustine, “ in the wounds 
of Jesus suspended on the cross, in the blood of 


HOLY ANNA OATH ARINA EMMERICH 155 


the dying Christ, the whole worth of the Saviour. 
The head is bent forw r ard to give us the kiss of 
mercy; the side is open to love us; the whole 
body is given for our salvation, that He was nailed 
to the cross for you may be altogether in your 
heart.” 



BLESSED MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE. 

Blessed Margaret Mary, who was the foun- 
dress of the devotion to the Sacred Heart, was born 
in 1647 at Lautheeour, in the Diocese of Autun, 
in France. When she was only four years old she 
often said: “My God, to Thee I consecrate my 
purity and vow to Thee eternal virginity.” She 
was happiest when she knelt with her little hands 
folded before the tabernacle and adored Jesus in 
the Blessed Sacrament. She fasted every Satur- 
day in honor of the Blessed Virgin. 

When she was eight years old, Margaret’s father 
died. Her mother, who had a large household to 
look after, sent her little daughter to the convent 
of the Poor Clares to be educated. Margaret was 
so pious, and mastered the Christian doctrine so 
rapidly, that she was allowed to receive her first 
holy communion when she was only nine years old. 
After this she denied herself all childish plays, 
preferring lonesome places where she could pray 
undisturbed. 


156 


BLESSED MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE. 157 

A dangerous illness compelled Margaret to re- 
turn to her mother’s house. The physicians did 
not seem to be able to help her. Then the sick 
girl vowed to enter the Order of the Visitation if 
she got well, and behold! she was able to get up at 
once. This was a spur to her to pray the more’ 
fast more strictly, and increase her works of pen- 
ance. 

Because her mother and brothers saved the deli- 
cate girl all work, she gradually relaxed in her 
devotions and gave herself up to society and vani- 
ties. Then God- put a severe discipline upon her. 
The servants to whom her aging and sickly 
mother had to turn over the household were very 
unkind to Margaret. She often had to beg them 
for something to eat. But before the tabernacle 
she found strength for her soul. 

After her eighteenth year she had to suffer 
much from the attempts of her relatives to make 
her marry. But her love for her divine Bride- 
groom won, and in her twenty-third year she en- 
tered the convent of the nuns of the Order of the 
Visitation at Paray-le-Monial. 

In the year 1672 she took the vows of the Order, 
to he thereafter a model of humility, obedience, 
patience, self-denial, and devotion. She medi- 
tated so fervently upon the sufferings of Christ 


158 BLESSED MARGARET MART ALACOQUE. 

that she often became unconscious, and felt the 
greatest desire to he permitted to suffer herself 
in order to become like Christ. In return she was 
rewarded by frequent visions of Our Lord, who 
revealed the infinite mercies of His Sacred Heart 
to the pure virgin for the benefit of the whole 
world. 

In one of these visions, during the octave of 
Corpus Christi, the Saviour spoke to Mary from 
the tabernacle: “ Behold this Heart, which has 
loved men so much that it -has suffered everything 
for their sake, that it has consumed itself for love 
of them. See this Heart, which is so overpowered 
by its love of men that it can no longer contain 
the flames of this love, it must let them break out. 
Announce, therefore, and let it be announced in 
the whole world that I will put no measure nor 
limit upon the graces to be obtained by those who 
seek them in My Heart.” At the same time Mar- 
garet saw the tabernacle glow, and in the midst 
of the light was the Heart of the Saviour sur- 
rounded by tongues of flame, surmounted by a 
cross, a deep wound in its side and a crown of 
thorns around it. Then the Lord commanded 
His servant to have a special feast established for 
the Sacred Heart. 

Margaret obeyed joyfully, but was met with 


BLESSED MARGARET MART ALACOQUE. 159 

scorn and ridicule everywhere. This continued for 
several years. At last the pious virgin, with the 
help of her confessor, P. Claudius de la Colombiere 
of the Society of Jesus, succeeded in introducing 
the devotion to the Sacred Heart. In 1765 Pope 
Clement XIII. finally sanctioned the feast of the 
Sacred Heart. 

Margaret died on the 17th of October, 1690. 
Her last words were: “ 0 Sisters, what a great 
happiness it is to love God! ” 

Dear children, take to heart the words of the 
Saviour that there is no limit to the graces that 
can be obtained from His Sacred Heart. Adore 
it fervently and often. J esus is the special friend 
of the children, for it is of you He said: “ Suffer 
the little ones to come unto Me.” 



ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 

St. Lawrence is called “ of Brindisi 99 because 
of the city of Brindisi in Italy, where he was born 
of noble parents in the year 1559. He was given 
the name Julius Caesar. Immediately after Bap- 
tism the child had such a heavenly appearance 
that all who saw him were filled with wonder, and 
the expectation of the great things that might be 
in store for him. 

These expectations were destined to be fulfilled. 
Even in his earliest youth Lawrence was so devout 
that he was generally called “the little angel/'’ 
To become a religious was the wish of the four- 
year-old boy. His father told him he was too 
young, but sent him to be educated at the Fran- 
ciscan monastery of St. Paul. According to the 
custom of the time, the boy received the habit of 
the Order, without, however, being obliged to be- 
come a monk when he grew to manhood. 

In his twelfth year the boy’s father died. Then 

he bade farewell to his mother and went to Yen- 
160 


ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 161 

ice to live with an uncle, who was a clergyman. 
Here he hoped to be better able than he would 
have been at home to prepare himself for the 
religious life to which he felt he was called to 
dedicate himself. 

In Venice, Julius lived only for his studies and 
his devotions. Meditation on the Passion of 
Christ, self-abnegation, and works of penance 
purified his soul. His fervor was so great that 
people tried to kneel near him in church, in the 
hope that they would thus be able to pray better 
and be heard sooner. 

After two years of eager preparation, Julius 
entered the monastery of the Capuchins at 
Verona, where he received the name Laurentius; 
or, Lawrence in religion. As a novice he was a 
model of piety and obedience. On the eve of the 
feast of the Annunciation, Lawrence took the 
solemn vows of the Order. 

Then his superiors sent him to Padua to con- 
tinue his studies. Lawrence made such wonderful 
progress in his studies, especially in theology and 
the languages, that he was the marvel of all who 
knew him. Although he was not yet ordained to 
the priesthood, he was, nevertheless, thought 
worthy to preach the Lenten sermons in the 
Church of St. John at Padua. His success was 


162 ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 

very great. Many sinners were converted and the 
wavering strengthened in their faith. 

After his ordination Lawrence preached at Vin- 
cenza, Bassano, Venice, Pavia, and everywhere he 
inflamed the hearts of the people to penance and 
good works. Pope Clement VIII. called the won- 
derful preacher to Rome and asked him to work 
for the conversion of the Jews. Now Lawrence 
preached the message of the Saviour in Rome and 
in other Italian cities, and brought many of the 
children of Israel into the bosom of the holy 
Church. 

The strength and devotion for his labors came 
to St. Lawrence chiefly from the Sacrifice of Mass. 
In spite of his many travels, he rarely permitted 
a day to pass without celebrating Mass. He often 
spent several hours in preparation for the Mass, 
and during the celebration he often shed tears in 
thinking of the innocent Saviour. It often hap- 
pened that he passed from one ecstasy into another 
during Mass, and sometimes he was seen to float 
in the air. 

When he was only in his twenty-eighth year he 
was chosen superior of his Order in Venice. As 
such he performed the duties of his office most 
carefully. Then the Capuchins of the province 
of Toskana elected him to be their provincial. 


ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 


163 


But after three years the province of Venice called 
him back to that city as provincial. When he 
came back his reception was made a public holi- 
day. On this occasion God distinguished His serv- 
ant for the first time by the gift of miracles. He 
gave sight to a blind man in the multitude by 
blessing him, and cured a girl who was sick unto 
death. 

After the saint had served in other high offices 
in his Order, he, with t .velve other Capuchins, was 
sent to Germany by the general of the Order. He 
preached to the heretics and founded the first 
German monasteries of his Order in Vienna and 
Prague. 

During this time the saint did a most heroic act. 
It was in the year 1601, when Emperor Rudolf IT. 
was ruling the holy Roman Empire, that the 
Turks crossed into Hungary with a mighty army 
and threatened all Austria. The emperor could 
not oppose enough Christian soldiers to the Turk- 
ish army, and so the Christian soldiers themselves 
were afraid to go out to repulse the Turks. Father 
Lawrence appeared among them and exhorted 
them to courage. Then he swung himself on a 
horse and, holding aloft the crucifix, he blessed the 
soldiers and led them against the enemy. Full of 
enthusiasm, the soldiers followed. There was a 


164 ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 


terrible battle, in which the Christians were vic- 
tors. On the field of Stuhlweissenburg 30,000 
Turks lay dead on the 14th of October, 1601. 
Father Lawrence, however, gave all the credit of 
the victory to the crucified Saviour. 

After returning to Rome the saint was elected 
general of his whole Order. Doing works of spirit- 
ual and temporal mercy, he travelled through Italy, 
Switzerland, France, and Spain. Then Pope Paul 
V. sent him into Germany a second time. Again 
he preached to the heretics. He was also sent to 
Madrid in behalf of Bavaria, and here, too, did 
great work for the cause of religion. 

His last work was his intercession with the 
Spanish monarch for the people of Naples, who 
were much oppressed by the Spanish viceroy. 
While the saint was pleading for clemency he fell 
ill of dysentery in Lisbon. After a sickness that 
lasted nineteen days, he entered into the peace of 
his Master on July 2 2d, 1619, when he was sixty 
years old. 

The lesson that the life of St. Lawrence of 
Brindisi teaches to you, dear children, is to at- 
tend Mass often and attentively. Mass is, as St. 
Francis de Sales tells us, the sun of all spiritual 
exercises, the most precious means of grace. In 
the holy Mass the sacrifice of Golgotha is repeated 


ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI. 


i65 


bloodlessly, and therefore you can find in it all the 
merits and blessings which Christ won for us by 
His death on Good Friday. Never miss Mass, 
therefore, and attend with devotion and recollec- 
tion. 



ST. MARTIN. 

St. Martin, bishop and confessor, was born 
about the year 316 in Pannonia, now Hungary. 
His parents were pagans. His father was a high 
officer in the Roman army, and when his little son 
was still very small he was ordered to Pavia in 
Italy. 

When the boy reached his tenth year, he would 
often slip away unnoticed to go into the churches 
of the Christians and listen to their teachings. 
Everything seemed very beautiful and holy to him. 
Soon he, too, wished to become a Christian, and, 
without telling his parents, he asked to be admit- 
ted among those who were preparing to be bap- 
tized. 

Before Martin had received Baptism, when he 
was only fifteen years old, he became a mounted 
soldier, in obedience to the command of the em- 
peror. The troops marched into G-aul, now 
France, and Martin had to go along. Here he was 
soon made an officer. 


166 




ST. MARTIN. 


167 


The life of a soldier, dear children, is full of 
danger, not only to the body but to the soul. This 
was particularly the case in that far-away time 
when most of the soldiers were still in the dark- 
ness of paganism. Nevertheless, Martin remained 
good and pure. He was never known to swear, to 
lie, or to speak of impure things. He avoided 
gambling and drinking; prayer and the reading of 
good books were his recreation, and his pleasure 
was kindness and mercy towards the poor. 

Once in the middle of winter he met a beggar 
near the town of Amiens who was half naked and 
begged for alms for the sake of Christ. 

Martin had no money with him, but did not 
want to send the beggar away without something. 
So he cut his cloak in two with his swrnrd and gave 
half to the beggar. His companions laughed at 
him for doing so. But in the same night he saw 
Jesus Christ in a dream, clad in the piece of the 
cloak given Him by Martin, and saying to the 
angels who surrounded Him : “ Martinus, only a 
beginner in the faith, gave Me this garment.” 

You understand, children, that in this way the 
Saviour wanted to show Martin His approval, and 
that what one does for the least, for the love of 
Him, we really do for Him. 

You can understand, too, children, how Martin 


168 


ST. MARTIN. 


was encouraged and strengthened in his faith by 
this vision. 

In his eighteenth year Martin was baptized. 
For two years longer he remained a brave soldier; 
then he took his leave and went to St. Hilary, 
Bishop of Poitiers, to he fully instructed in the 
teachings of the Church. St. Hilary joyfully re- 
ceived the eager student, and instructed and con- 
firmed him in the truths of the faith. He also 
ordained him to the minor orders. 

Martin felt the happiness of living in the Cath- 
olic faith very profoundly, so he had a great desire 
that his parents should share in this happiness. 
He, therefore, returned to Pannonia, his father 
having been ordered back to that country in the 
meantime. 

With the grace of God, Martin succeeded in 
converting his mother, besides many others. His 
father, however, persisted in his paganism, to the 
grief of his son. Martin concluded to stay in 
Pannonia for some +ime and devote himself to 
the conversion of the pagans. But the heretical 
Arians drove him out, and so he returned to 
France to his teacher, St. Hilary. 

With the consent of St. Hilary, Martin built a 
monastery outside of the city of Poitiers. He was 
thus the first to introduce monastic life into 


st. martin. 


169 


France. He was held in high esteem on account of 
his severe life and the many miracles whereby God 
helped him in his labors. Then he was chosen 
to be Bishop of Tours. In his humility he hid 
himself, thinking to escape being made Bishop, 
but the cackling of geese nearby betrayed his hid- 
ing place. 

As Bishop, Martin opposed the heretics and de- 
stroyed the pagan temples by fire. At Tours he 
built a great monastery, where he lived with 
eighty companions, leading a simple and holy life. 
From time to time, accompanied by several cler- 
gymen, he visited his entire diocese, preaching, 
administering the sacraments, and giving alms to 
the poor. When he entered a church he began to 
tremble. When asked why, he answered: “Must 
I not tremble and be afraid when I appear before 
the majesty of God, before my Judge ? 99 

He lived to be very old and at last desired to die 
and be with Christ. God sent him a violent 
fever and revealed to him that his end was near. 
Then the saint received the sacraments, consoled 
his disciples, asked that the earth be strewn with 
ashes, and, putting on a penitential garment, he 
lay down to die, for he said that a Christian sol- 
dier must die in arms. In his last moments the 
Evil Spirit tried to tempt him, but St. Martin 


170 


ST. MARTIN. 


called out: “What do you want, soul-hungry 
monster? You will find nothing in me which be- 
longs to you.” After these words he died, eighty- 
four years old. It was the 11th of November in 
the year 400. 

That it is possible to lead a Christian life even 
as a soldier, St. Martin shows us. It is true, he 
left the army when he was but a young man, but 
he remained a heroic soldier of Christ all his life. 

His last fight was with the Evil One. As victor 
he is now before the throne of G-od. Every Chris- 
tian soldier should imitate the example of St. Mar- 
tin, the patron saint of soldiers. 

To defend their country, soldiers are permitted 
to use arms. But it must be only in battle and in 
open fight. It is not right to fire upon the enemy 
when he lays down his arms and shows the white 
flag of surrender. Neither is it permitted to use 
weapons against the defenceless. Bravery is only 
bravery when it is exhibited in the face of attack; 
against the defenceless it becomes brutality. The 
Christian soldier should also learn pity and mercy 
for the poor from St. Martin. When St. Martin 
gave half his cloak to the beggar on that cold 
winter day, he did it for the sake of Christ who 
was poor, and therefore Christ received him into 
heaven. 


ST. MARTIN. 


m 

Christ keeps what we give to the poor for us and 
gives it hack to us with manifold interest. ■ And 
thus the soldier who is merciful to the wounded or 
imprisoned enemy has a chance to lay up treasures 
in heaven. 



ST. ZITA. 

Queens who consecrated their hearts and their 
crowns to God and poor servant-maids who served 
Him by hard labor are united in heaven. 

St. Zita is one of the holy servant-maids. She 
was bom in the year 1218 in a poor peasant hut 
at Bozanello in Italy. Her pious mother raised 
her in the fear of God, recommending what was 
right to her with the words, “ It pleases God,” and 
warning her against anything evil by saying, “ It 
displeases God.” Zita delighted in obeying these 
commands, and arranged her whole life so as to 
please God. 

When Zita was twelve years old, her parents 
looked about for a place to put her to work. How- 
ever, they tried to place her with people with 
whom she would not suffer any harm to her soul, 
hut would he able to keep on in the path of salva- 
tion. Such a place was found for her in the house 
of a nobleman in Lucca whose name was Fatinelli. 

With confidence in God and with the resolution 
172 


ST. ZITA. 


173 


on her part to do her best, Zita began her service. 
She saw the representative of God in her master, 
and therefore looked upon her service as the serv- 
ice of God. “ The hand at work, the heart with 
God,” was her maxim. For this reason she was 
punctual, always industrious, and faithful even in 
the least that was given her to do. For this rea- 
son, too, she did not undertake any great devo- 
tions, unless she had distinct permission to do so. 

She rose early in the morning, said her prayers, 
and attended Mass in the church near by. Then 
she went at her work, no matter how hard or dif- 
ficult it was. While at work she was careful, so 
that she might do everything just right. At 
meals she was satisfied with little, that something 
might be left for the poor, for of the poor she 
took much care for the sake of the Saviour. Once 
when she was asked for something by a poor old 
beggar and had nothing else to give him, she went 
to the well and got a jug of fresh water. And 
behold! the beggar drank it as if he were drinking 
the choicest wine. 

Zita fasted often and did other works of pen- 
ance. In her attire she was very simple. Her 
short time of rest she often made still shorter by 
rising during the night to pray. She went to the 
sacraments often and with the most touching de- 
votion. 


174 


ST. ZITA. 


In the course of time her employers thought 
they could not do better than to place the direc- 
tion of the whole household in Zita’s hands. But 
this privileged position did not change her humil- 
ity. Zita remained just as amiable and kindly 
towards her fellow servants as she had been before. 
Only when faults and disorder or negligence made 
it necessary^ did she think it her duty to act as a 
superior. Her master was very quick-tempered, 
but she met him gently and persuasively, and al- 
ways managed to soothe him. The blessing of 
God seemed to be upon the whole household of 
the Fatinellis through St. Zita, and God even 
showed by miracles how pleasing the life of the 
virgin was to Him. 

Once when Zita remained in church longer than 
she intended to remain, she found the dough 
which she had set kneaded and ready to bake. It 
had been done for her by the angels. On another 
occasion, at Christmas time, she gave the costly 
fur cloak which her mistress had lent to her, to a 
poor beggar at the church-door. It was to be re- 
turned to her when the Mass was over. But when 
the “ Ita missa est ” was said the old man had dis- 
appeared, and with him the fur cloak. When she 
arrived at the house of her master she was blamed 
and reproached for her act. Then the door sud- 


ST. ZITA. 


175 


denly opened, the old man came in, handed her 
the cloak and disappeared. All said “ That was 
an angel.” 

After the saint had worked for forty-eight years 
in the same house the Lord called His faithful 
handmaid home to heaven. It was April 27, 
1272. A bright star appeared over the house and 
the children on the streets cried out: “ St. Zita 
is dead; let us hasten to see her.” 

If it should ever be your lot to serve, dear chil- 
dren, use your position to win heaven for yourself, 
as did St. Zita. But if you do not need to go into 
service, do not look upon those who do as below 
you and not to be considered. For out of their 
ranks saints have come to the Church, and Jesus 
Himself has told us that He did not come to be 
served, but to serve. What is there to be looked 
down upon in the simple attire of the maid serv- 
ant? Underneath it there may be a pious and 
pure soul, most pleasing to God. Therefore be 
pleasant, kindly, and amiable towards servants. 
The first place to practice charity towards our 
neighbors is at home. Moreover, if you are asked 
to do something, do it pleasantly. Obedience is 
even better than prayer. 


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